The Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand are a hotspot for marine biodiversity, and that includes a spectacular variety of nudibranchs—some of the most colorful and fascinating sea slugs in the world. Thanks to the warm East Auckland Current, subtropical species mix with temperate ones, creating incredible diversity.
Below is a growing list of some of the amazing ones we have seen and photographed since 2012. This page will be added to as we find time to work on it and lucky enough to spot and photograph more species
Aphelodoris lucuosa
Up to 75mm
Feeds on sponges
Cadlina flavomaculata
Yellow Spotted Cadlina but with dark gills
This beauty was seen at 30 metres at Middle Arch and I was shooting wide angle.
80mm
Cadlina willani
Caldukia rubiginosa
Up to 15mm
Feeds on Bryosoans
Ceratosoma amenum
Clown Nudibranch
Up to 60mm
Feeds on sponges
Probably the most common and easy to see nudibranchs at the Poor Knights. Commonly found near grey sponges.
Chromodoris aureomarginata
Up to 30mm
Feeds on sponges
Most commonly seen at night, but can be found during the daytime
Crimora multidigitalis
8mm
Feeds on Bryzoans
Coryphellina albomarginata
6-12mm
Feeds on Tubularia and other hydroids
Dendrodoris denisoni
Gem Nudibranch
Up to 80mm
Feeds on sponges
Diaphorodoris sp
10mm
Feeds on Bryozoans
Rare in New Zealand
Galeojanolus Ioannae
10mm
Feeds on Bryozoans
Janolus ignis
Up to 60mm
Feeds on Bryozoans
Nocturnal, rarely seen during the day
Janolus mokohinau
25mm
Feeds on Bryozoans
Jason mirabilis
Upto 65mm
Feeds on Solanderia hydroid
Okenia atkinsonorum
12mm
Feeds on Bryozoans
Look on anything pink for these cute little guys
Roboastra luteolineata
Up to 125mm
Feeds on Tamja Verconis nudibranch
Tamja morosa
Up to 120mm
Feeds on Bugula dentata bryozoan
Tambja pulcherrima
Up to 75mm
Feeds on Bugula denetata Bryozoans
Uncommon
Tambja tenuilineata
Upto 50mm
Feeds on Bryozoans
Varies in shades on green
Most likely the second most common nudibranch at the Poor Knights.
Varying in shades of green, from a light almost yellow with light yellow stripes, to dark green with dark stripes.
Tambja verconis
Upto 100mm
Feeds on Bugula dentata bryozoan
This Tamja verconis and Tamja tenuilineata seem to be a having some cross species action.
Trapania rudmani
8mm
Feeds on Kamtozoans
Tularia bractea
10mm
Feeds on Athecate hydroids
To be ID’d
Sea Slugs
Sacoglossans – Sap suckimng slugs
Elysia species
20mm
Slug
Whangarei Harbour
