Migrating Aeolid, Cratena peregrina, a common nudibranch of the Mediterranean Sea. This picture was taken in Malta

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The migrating Aeolid is a very common nudibranch species in the Mediterranean Sea. On the back it is covered with long filaments (papillae) , which are an extension of its digestive tract. It feeds on hydroids, which are small cnidarian species. These determine the coloration of the papillae, which can reach from bright orange to dark brown and purple. The long antennae on their head are rhinophores, which serve the purpose of smelling. Aeolids are hermaphrodites, but usually reproduce with another one.

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Size: 5600px × 3684px
Location: Malta, Europe.
Photo credit: © Malcolm Ross / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aeolid, aeolidida, aeolidina, aeolidioidea, animalia, cratena, crateninae, diving, facelinidae, filaments, gastropod, gastropoda, glaucidae, hermaphrodite, heterobranchia, invertebrate, malta, marine, mediterranean, migrating, mollusca, mollusk, nudibranch, ocean, orange, peregrina, pretty, scuba, sea, slug, snail, underwater, white