The Algae Mimic
Melibe digitata (Gosliner & Smith, 2003) is one of the most unique nudibranchs at our macro dive sites in Romblon, Philippines. Its finely branched, finger-like cerata papillae closely resemble green algae. As a result, this species blends almost perfectly with its surroundings. It belongs to the order Nudibranchia, suborder Dendronotina, family Tethydidae. Furthermore, it is known almost exclusively from the Philippines — making Romblon one of the best places in the world to find it. You can find observations on iNaturalist.
Where to Find It
Melibe digitata hides under small dead rocks and rubble in very shallow water — typically 1 to 5 metres depth. It is closely related to Melibe colemani and Melibe engeli, also documented in our Marine Life Encyclopedia. Like all Melibe species, it uses an expandable oral hood to catch small crustaceans. Notably, it lacks a radula entirely — swallowing prey whole. It is small — just 10 to 30 mm — and its translucent brown body makes it difficult to spot against rubble. However, groups of a dozen or more individuals have been documented together with multiple egg masses.
Photographing It at Sunset Cove
At Sunset Cove Beach & Dive Resort, our guides search under small dead rocks in shallow areas. Turn rocks gently and always replace them carefully. The finely branched cerata are extraordinary under magnification. Therefore, diopters give the best results. For underwater macro photographers in Romblon, finding a group of Melibe digitata with egg masses is one of the most exciting shallow water encounters possible. Consequently, this species consistently produces some of the most unique macro images from our dive sites.