FamilyFlabellinidaeAlso known asPurple flabellina, Violet aeolid nudibranchDescriptionFlabellina affinis is a strikingly beautiful aeolid nudibranch with a translucent whitish-pink body adorned with vivid violet-tipped cerata (gill-like projections) arranged in clusters along its dorsum. It feeds primarily on hydroids of the genus Eudendrium. The purple coloration in the cerata comes from ingested prey pigments and cnidosacs at the tips that store nematocysts for defense.HabitatFound in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean, typically on rocky reefs and walls at depths of 1–40 m, often associated with hydroid colonies. Most abundant in the Mediterranean.Conservation statusLeast ConcernNotesClassic coloration and cerata morphology strongly indicate Flabellina affinis, a common Mediterranean species. The translucent body with pink/orange mid-dorsal stripe and bright violet cerata tips are highly diagnostic. Image quality is good with adequate lighting and sharpness for confident identification.Creatures detected3 in frame- Flabellina nudibranchinvertebrate
- encrusting coralline algaeplant_algae
- soft coral or sponge encrustationinvertebrate
