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snails and sea-slugs: molluscs


Phyllodesmium serratum

Phyllodesmium serratum. Most aeolids feed on cnidarians which have stinging nematocysts. The aeolids store these stinging cells for their own defence. Species of Phyllodesmium feed on soft-corals which do not have suitable nematocysts. Instead, they have evolved sticky cerata which easily break off and wriggle vigorously when roughly handled. It is thought that, much like a lizard's tail, this distracts potential predators from eating the aeolid (12mm).

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