Scientific Name: Madrella ferruginosa
Common Name: Rusty madrella

Adult Size: 10 – 25 mm
Depth Range: 5 – 25 m
Biotope / Habitat: Coral reef slopes and rubble areas, typically found among small hydroids and encrusting invertebrates
Diet: Specialized feeder on hydroids, using its radula to scrape and consume their tiny polyps
Reproduction: Hermaphroditic; mates reciprocally, laying small, coiled egg ribbons in hidden reef crevices or among hydroids
Fun Fact: Madrella ferruginosa’s rusty red to orange body, covered in fine bumps, makes it a unique and eye-catching addition to the reef’s vibrant cast of nudibranchs.

This subtle and beautiful slug blends perfectly with the reddish hues of algae and hydroids, adding a quiet elegance to the reef’s smaller, more delicate life forms.