Scarlet Lady

This brilliant red and white sea slug would make the perfect nudibranch for a Christmas card image or perhaps a football team mascot!

Species information

Statistics

Up to 5cm long.

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

April - October.

About

This nudibranch likes to feed on hydroids (stinging polyps similar to corals and anemones) and is able to ingest the stinging cells and use them in its own defence! It is common in spring and early summer in shallow water as well as deeper water exposed to tidal streams.

How to identify

Translucent white body, with numerous long red projections, with white tips. Can be confused with other very similar species.

Distribution

Common along the west coast of Britain and Ireland.

Habitats

Marine

Did you know?

There are more than 3000 known species of nudibranch and some of them are the most colourful animals on the planet!

How people can help

Always follow the Seashore Code when rockpooling, be careful to leave everything as you found it - replace any rocks you turn over, put back any crabs or fish and ensure not to scrape anything off its rocky home. If you want to learn more about our rockpool life, Wildlife Trusts around the UK run rockpool safaris and offer Shoresearch training - teaching you to survey your local rocky shore. The data collected is then used to protect our coasts and seas through better management or through the designation of Marine Protected Areas.