Scrambled-Egg Nudibranch

Scrambled-Egg Nudibranch
Phyllidia Varicosa

The nickname makes sense at first glance, with bright yellow tubercles scattered across a blue-gray body like little pieces of egg. Although, looking at those rounded yellow patches, it arguably looks more like a collection of fried eggs than scrambled ones. The uneven shapes and raised centers give each marking its own character, while dark lines wind between them across the back. It is an oddly convincing breakfast comparison for an animal that could not look less like anything you would find on a plate.

• Size: Up to around 100 mm
• Range: Widespread Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific
• Habitat / Depth: Rocky reefs, rubble and sandy areas, around 1–49 m
• Diet: Sponges, including Ciocalypta species