Scarlet Lady

Coryphella browni

Paul Naylor

Scarlet Lady

This brilliant red and white sea slug would make the perfect nudibranch for a Christmas card image or perhaps a football team mascot!

Scientific name

Fjordia browni

When to see

April - October.

Species information

Statistics

Up to 5cm long.
Common.

Habitats

About

This nudibranch likes to feed on hydroids (stinging polyps similar to corals and anemones) and is able to ingest the stinging cells and use them in its own defence! It is common in spring and early summer in shallow water as well as deeper water exposed to tidal streams.

How to identify

Translucent white body, with numerous long red projections, with white tips. Can be confused with other very similar species.

Distribution

Common along the west coast of Britain and Ireland.

Did you know?

There are more than 3000 known species of nudibranch and some of them are the most colourful animals on the planet!