Felimare Acriba

Gold-Crowned Sea Goddess
Felimare Acriba

Deep cobalt blue meets fine golden lines on this spectacular sea slug, with black markings tucked between the pattern like tiny strokes of ink. A vivid yellow-orange fringe follows the mantle, while purple-blue rhinophores and warm amber gills add flashes of color at either end. The whole animal has an almost impossibly precise sense of order, as though every line has been carefully placed.

• Size: Up to 60 mm
• Range: Western tropical Atlantic; found throughout the Caribbean, including Florida, Mexico, Panama and the Antilles
• Habitat / Depth: Sandy bottoms with rocky and coral rubble, typically found at depths of 4–26 m
• Diet: Feeds primarily on sponges.

Photo by Dan Schofield