Rolandiella scotti
NameRolandiella scotti
Scientific NameRolandiella scotti
Common NameScott's Rolandiella (or simply a type of sea slug/nudibranch, as no widely accepted common name exists)
FamilyPolyceridae
GenusRolandiella
Speciesscotti
Geographic DistributionIndo-Pacific, known from tropical Western Pacific regions including the Philippines and Indonesia.
Average Size (mm)10-30 mm (1-3 cm) in length, based on typical sizes for the genus and visual estimation from the image.
Identifying FeaturesKey features include the absence of an external shell, a highly textured and ridged body, and characteristic transverse reddish-brown bands. Its cryptic coloration and morphology allow it to blend seamlessly with its invertebrate-rich habitat. Like other nudibranchs, it possesses rhinophores (chemosensory tentacles) and oral tentacles, though they are not distinctly visible in this camouflaged state.
Raritycommon
Author CitationRudman, 1985
Description
Rolandiella scotti is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, belonging to the family Polyceridae. As a nudibranch, it lacks an external shell in its adult stage. The specimen in the image exhibits a highly textured, ridged body that is cryptically colored to blend with its marine environment, which appears to be a complex substrate of sponges, hydroids, and other sessile invertebrates. Its body is somewhat elongated and flattened, with prominent dorsal ridges or papillae that contribute to its camouflage.
