Orange Moridilla – Moridilla brockii

, Orange Moridilla, Moridilla brockii

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf, Yellow Sea

The Orange Moridilla – Moridilla brockii is a captivating species of sea slug belonging to the family Facelinidae. Known for its vibrant orange coloration, this nudibranch is a striking addition to the diverse underwater world.

Description & Characteristics

The Moridilla brockii is a relatively small nudibranch, typically reaching a maximum size of a few centimeters. Its most prominent feature is its bright orange body, often adorned with subtle markings or patterns. This vibrant hue serves as a warning to potential predators, indicating its toxicity. The slug’s body is elongated and somewhat cylindrical, with a distinct head and a pair of rhinophores, or sensory organs, located on top of the head.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Moridilla brockii is found in seawater environments, primarily inhabiting the subtidal, sublittoral, and infralittoral zones. These zones encompass the deep zone of the oceans, extending from the lower limit of the intertidal zone to the shelf edge at around 200 meters. This depth range places the Moridilla brockii within the neritic marine zone, a region characterized by its relatively shallow waters and close proximity to the coastline. This species can be found in various locations throughout this vast marine zone, indicating its adaptability to different conditions.

Taxonomy

The Moridilla brockii belongs to the Class: Gastropoda, Order: Nudibranchia, and Family: Facelinidae. This classification places it within a diverse group of marine invertebrates known for their striking colors and fascinating adaptations. The family Facelinidae includes numerous nudibranch species, each with its own unique characteristics and ecological roles.

Feeding

The Moridilla brockii is a food specialist, relying primarily on Hydrozoa polyps as its dietary source. These polyps are small, colonial animals that form intricate structures within the marine environment. The Moridilla brockii utilizes its specialized feeding apparatus to consume these polyps, extracting nutrients that support its growth and development. This specialized feeding behavior contributes to the species’ ecological role within its habitat, influencing the dynamics of its surrounding ecosystem.

Associated Species

Image References

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