Chromodoris Willani

Willan's Chromodoris
Chromodoris Willani

A rich blue mantle gives this nudibranch an almost electric presence, broken by crisp black lines that sweep around the body and a scatter of tiny dark spots across its back. The rhinophores and feathery gills carry their own pale speckles, while a clean white edge keeps the whole pattern sharply contained. It is a remarkably graphic little animal, with just enough irregularity in the lines to keep it from feeling too perfectly arranged.

• Size: Up to around 45 mm
• Range: Indo-West Pacific; from Indonesia and the Philippines through Malaysia, Japan, Vanuatu and other western Pacific islands
• Habitat / Depth: Coral reefs, rocky slopes and reef drop-offs, typically found from around 5–60 m
• Diet: Feeds on sponges, particularly species in the families Thorectidae and Halichondriidae