Taxonomy & Classification
| Order | Nudibranchia (Nudibranchs) |
|---|---|
| Suborder | Dendronotina |
| Family | Tethydida |
| Genus | Melibe |
| WoRMS AphiaID | 708806 |
| iNaturalist | 557665 |
| Dive Sites | Canyon 1, Paluksuhan, Santa Maria |
Formally described by Gosliner & Pola in 2012. Named after Neville Coleman (1938–2012) who first discovered the species in 2008 at Mabul Island, Malaysia — one month before the formal description was published. Phylogenetically placed within the same Melibe clade as M. engeli, M. digitata, and M. tuberculata. Synonym: none currently accepted.
Morphology
| Size | 25–60 mm |
|---|---|
| Colour Variations | Body almost entirely transparent/translucent with no colour morphs recorded. Internal digestive glands visible as a network of cream-white to whitish-brown tubules ramifying throughout the body and cerata — giving the iconic "string bag" or "pile of strings" appearance under direct light. |
| Identifying Features | Fully translucent gelatinous body with internal organs visible to the naked eye. Laterally flattened cerata with elongate apical papillae — key distinction from M. bucephala and M. engeli which have cylindrical cerata. Rhinophoral sheaths cylindrical with a single papilla at apex, vs. sail-shaped sheaths with numerous papillae in related species. Net-shaped oral hood used as feeding trap. Anterior and posterior ends appear almost identical at first glance. |
The oral hood is relatively small compared to other Melibe species, bearing a single row of thin papillae ventrally and larger papillae dorsally. Rhinophores well-separated, sited on the posterior of the hood, each comprising 3–4 lateral lamellae on a long thin cylindrical sheath. Body length typically 25–60mm. Often mistaken for decomposing tissue, debris, or a piece of hydroid colony.
Habitat & Ecology
| Substrate | coral, rubble, muck |
|---|---|
| Reef Zone | slope, flat |
| Depth Range | 5–25 m (most common: 10 m) |
| Temperature | 27–29°C |
| Current | none |
| Visibility | variable |
| Primary Prey / Host | Xenia coral (genus Xenia) — soft coral rubble. Also recorded feeding on small crustaceans, shelled caenogastropods, worms and benthic microfauna trapped via oral hood sweep. |
Activity & Behaviour
| Active Time | day, night |
|---|---|
| Tidal Correlation | none |
| Seasonal Presence | Year-round at Romblon — SSC field data to be added |
| Social Behaviour | solitary |
| Feeding Method | hunting |
| Feeding Time | opportunistic |
| Egg Ribbon | SSC field observation to be added |
| Spawning Season | SSC field observation to be added |
| Chemical Defence | Absent |
| Aposematic Colouring | Absent |
| Camouflage Strategy | Full body transparency allows blending with surroundings. Digestive tubule network mimics detritus, hydroids, sponges or algae on seafloor. Cryptobenthic — often indistinguishable from debris at first glance. |
| Escape Response | Undulating swimming motion when disturbed — lifts off substrate and drifts slowly. Slow floating movement in low current. Rarely moves quickly. |
Scientific Literature
- Diversification of filter-feeding nudibranchs: two remarkable new species of Melibe (Opisthobranchia: Tethyiidae) from the tropical western Pacific
- Systematic review and phylogenetic analysis of the nudibranch genus Melibe (Opisthobranchia: Dendronotacea) with descriptions of three new species
- Malacologische Untersuchungen — Description of Melibe colemani