Scientific Name: Phyllidiella meandrina
Common Name: Meandering Phyllidiella

Adult Size: 20 – 50 mm
Depth Range: 5 – 30 m
Biotope / Habitat: Found on coral reefs, especially in areas with sponge growth such as reef slopes, walls, and rubble zones
Diet: Feeds on specific sponges, especially those in the genus Phakellia and other demosponges
Reproduction: Hermaphroditic; individuals mate side by side and exchange sperm. Eggs are laid in flat, coiled ribbons, often on or near their sponge prey. Larvae are planktonic before settling.
Fun Fact: Phyllidiella meandrina lacks the typical external gills of most nudibranchs. Instead, it breathes through secondary gill structures beneath its mantle skirt—a trait shared by all Phyllidiids.

Phyllidiella meandrina is easy to recognize thanks to its bold pattern of pink ridges edged in black, which trace irregular, maze-like paths across its back. These bright warning colors signal its toxicity, derived from sponge-based chemical compounds.