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August 31, 2024  |  By Ben Ivers

Ringed Sap-sucking Slug

Ringed Sap-sucking Slug Live

Ringed Sap-Sucking Slug - iNaturalist

The sandbar will actually be exposed during low tide!

I certainly wasn’t expecting to see a ringed sap-sucking slug when I rolled out of the kayak in three feet deep water in Kaneohe Bay on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i. We started our morning by kayaking one mile straight out into the ocean. This led us to the famed Kaneohe Sandbar. This is a strip of sand that’s in the middle of the bay that when the conditions are right (low tide, correct moon cycle, good recent current, etc.), the sandbar will actually be exposed during low tide!

Gold-Line Nudibranch

We had gone out there to revel in the feeling of “walking on water” in the middle of the ocean. After experiencing this, we decided to paddle to one of the small atoll reefs that dot the bay. Along the way we saw numerous sea turtles popping up for a breath. When we finally stopped at a friendly looking reef, it only took a minute or two to spot this sea slug.

You may be asking yourself, what is a ringed sap-sucking slug doing in a nudibranch gallery! Well, I was one nudibranch shy of a gallery’s worth, and the ringed sap-sucking slug is a close relative to nudibranchs. As noted in one of Matt’s articles from this month, all nudibranchs are sea slugs, but not all sea slugs are nudibranchs. One easy way to tell is if the slug you are looking at has a shell. If it does, it’s not a nudibranch. But many sea slugs don’t have shells, but still aren’t nudibranchs. Sea slug is the broader term. One feature that will surely tell you that it’s a nudibranch is if they have exposed gills. “Naked gill” is the literal meaning of nudibranch. If you don’t see exposed gills, then it is some other type of sea slug.

Harlequin Blue

The ringed sap-sucking slug belongs to the order of sea slugs commonly known as sap-sucking slugs. The scientific name is Sacoglossa. The scientific name for this specific species is Plakobranchus ocellatus. This particular species can grow to be a little over 1.5 inches long. They are generally pale green, beige, or cream. The name ringed sap-sucking slug comes in part from the cream, brown, pink, and purple ocelli (or eyespots) that pattern the back of this sea slug. They have two rinophores, with one extending from either side of its head. They tend to live in shallow water one stones and silt. Their diet consists mostly of algae.

Ring Sap-Sucking Slugs' diet consists mostly of algae

Did you know?

  • There are only thee known species in the Plakobranchus genus.
  • The ringed sap-sucking slug can use the chloroplasts of the ingested algae to produce energy through photosynthesis!
More Photos from Kaneohe Bay
Kaneohe Bay Live
Kaneohe Bay
Conspicuous Sea Cucumber Live
Sea Cucumber
This Month's Gallery
diving Hawaii ocean Pacific sea slug underwater

Article by Ben Ivers

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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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