Thuridilla [Thuridilla]

Description

Thuridilla is a genus within the Plakobranchidae family, distinguished by its members' strikingly colorful and elongated bodies. These sap-sucking slugs are notable for the bright, vivid patterns that adorn their bodies, making them some of the most visually appealing sea slugs. Thuridilla species utilize kleptoplasty, harboring chloroplasts from consumed algae to photosynthesize. They are found in a range of marine habitats, from coral reefs to rocky shores in tropical and subtropical seas. Their diet primarily consists of specific algae from which they derive not only nourishment but also the chloroplasts for their photosynthetic activities.