Striped Phyllidopsis

Phyllidiopsis xishaensis

A tiny marvel of the reef, this nudibranch wears its stripes like a delicate piece of couture. Its pale blue to creamy-white back is streaked with four bold black lines, each ridge rising slightly to create a textured, almost sculpted look. It glides slowly across coral rubble, its lemon-hued rhinophores swaying gently as it explores. This little striped wonder stands out with its precise, elegant patterning and subtle charm.

• Size: Up to 40 mm
• Range: Western Central Pacific; the Philippines and the Marshall Islands
• Habitat / Depth: Coral reef slopes and rocky outcrops, typically found on or near sponges, at depths of 5–30 m
• Diet: Feeds on sponges, using its radula to scrape and consume sponge tissue for nutrition and chemical defense.