Gardiner's Headshield Slug

Description:

Often referred to as nudibranchs, but they are not. Also known as Velvet Nudibranch, Blue Velvet Sea Slug, Blue Lined Nudibranch, Hammerhead Sea Slug, Blue-lined Sandflat Snail, Blue-margin Sea Slug and Blue Doris. They feed on nudibranchs and other gastropods, hydroids, coral, sponges and anemones. Cephalaspidea or Headshield Snails are of the Opisthobranchia group, some of which still have a shell. The "head shield" from which this group attain their name, is a broadened part of the head,used to dig into the sand and protect the snail.

Habitat:

Found singly or in pairs on coral and rocky reefs amongst sand and rubble areas. Widespread across the Indo-Pacific region.

Notes:

This sea slug is often confused with the Velvet Headshield Snail (Chelidonura varians) because of the striking similarities in coloration and form.