Scientific Name: Glossodoris hikuerensis
Common Name: Hikueru Glossodoris

Adult Size: 35 – 70 mm
Depth Range: 5 – 30 m; commonly seen on outer reef slopes and coral rubble zones
Biotope / Habitat: Found on hard substrates near sponge growth, especially in areas with good water flow and moderate depth
Diet: Feeds on specific sponges in the family Thorectidae; retains noxious compounds in its tissues as chemical defense
Reproduction: Simultaneous hermaphrodite; mates in a lateral position and lays a pale yellow to cream egg ribbon, loosely coiled on a firm surface near its sponge prey. Larvae are planktonic before metamorphosis and settlement.
Fun Fact: When threatened, G. hikuerensis secretes a milky chemical deterrent from mantle glands—effective against would-be predators like fish. Its slow, deliberate crawl and broad, rippling mantle make it a favourite subject for patient macro photographers.

Often described as ghostly or ethereal, Glossodoris hikuerensis has a creamy white and orange body dusted with fine spots and edged with a soft lavender or blue-grey mantle line. Its rhinophores and gills are similarly speckled and subtly coloured, helping it blend into sponge-covered reefs—until you look closer and realize you’ve found a gem of the Indo-Pacific.