Arminidae
Armina and Dendrobranchus are the two main genera in this family. There are a number of large and spectacular members in both genera. They all feed on sea pens or soft corals, or occasionally gorgonians.
Janolus
Janolus has a unique sensory organ, the caruncle, between the rhinophores. Branched bryozoans are their main food.
Bornella, Dendronotis, Scyllaeidae
Distinct, elongated rhinophore sheaths, as seen so clearly in Bornella anguilla characterise this group.
Like B. anguilla, both Crosslandia and Notobryon species can swim. The latter two genera feed on hydroids growing on the surface of brown algae and sea grass.
Melibe
This genus of specialised crustacean feeders might not be so well known by divers if it were not for the spectacularly transparent M. colemani and M. engeli.
Most species can swim well. Those that are brown profit from symbiotic algae in the same way as Phyllodesmium species and corals.
Tritoniidae
Tritonia, Tritioniopsis and Marionia are the three genera in this family. Anatomically, the genera are quite distinct, but visually all three genera are fairly similar. They are specialist preditors on gorgonians, soft corals and sea pens.
Dotidae
Doto and Kabeiro have nodular cerata. The Pancake Doto (Doto greenamyeri), so named because the cerata look like piles of pancakes has drawn the attention of many underwater photographers to this genus. They all seem to feed on hyroids, the Dotos that is!
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Arminidae
Arminidae
Armina and Dendrobranchus are the two main genera in this family. There are a number of large and spectacular members in both genera. They all feed on sea pens or soft corals, or occasionally gorgonians.
Janolus
Janolus
Janolus has a unique sensory organ, the caruncle, between the rhinophores. Branched bryozoans are their main food.
Bornella, Dendronotis, Scyllaeidae
Bornella, Dendronotis, Scyllaeidae
Distinct, elongated rhinophore sheaths, as seen so clearly in Bornella anguilla characterise this group.
Like B. anguilla, both Crosslandia and Notobryon species can swim. The latter two genera feed on hydroids growing on the surface of brown algae and sea grass.
Melibe
Melibe
This genus of specialised crustacean feeders might not be so well known by divers if it were not for the spectacularly transparent M. colemani and M. engeli.
Most species can swim well. Those that are brown profit from symbiotic algae in the same way as Phyllodesmium species and corals.
Tritoniidae
Tritoniidae
Tritonia, Tritioniopsis and Marionia are the three genera in this family. Anatomically, the genera are quite distinct, but visually all three genera are fairly similar. They are specialist preditors on gorgonians, soft corals and sea pens.
Dotidae
Dotidae
Doto and Kabeiro have nodular cerata. The Pancake Doto (Doto greenamyeri), so named because the cerata look like piles of pancakes has drawn the attention of many underwater photographers to this genus. They all seem to feed on hyroids.
