Varicose Phyllid Nudibranch

The bright colours of the varicose phyllid nudibranch aren’t just for show – they warn predators about its toxic nature! When the varicose phyllid nudibranch feels threatened, it can secrete toxins that can hurt or even kill many surrounding organisms, including its predators.

Interestingly, the varicose phyllid nudibranch cannot make its own toxins. Instead, it gets its chemical weapons from the sponges that it eats! As it does not have a radula to scrape its food into small pieces, it feeds by secreting digestive juices into sponges and then sucking up the resultant sponge “soup”.