‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ is a very suitable saying for this nudibranch which is commonly found around our Lembeh Strait dive sites.  If I described a sea slug covered in orange-spotted, lumpy tubercles to you, you’d probably ask if it was contagious.  However, as the attached pictures demonstrate, this is one of the more striking, larger nudibranch species found in the Strait.

The Batangas Nudibranch

Named after the ‘batangas’ region of the Philippines, this slug dwarfs many of our daintier nudis measuring in at a mighty 40mm – and it has the height and width to match!  You can distinguish this species from other Halgerda species by the fine network of orange lines covering the body between the raised tubercles.  Its unusual body shape is topped off with black and white rhinophores and gills which, since it is a member of the ‘cryptobranch dorid’ nudibranchs, can be retracted into its body.

Eight individuals were spotted this morning at our dive site ‘Critter Hunt’ but you will need the eagle eyes of a Two Fish Lembeh dive guide to discover some of its more cryptic sluggy cousins! Did you know that the Lembeh Strait is like a treasure trove for those who are seeking rare and unusual nudibranch? While the species we find change throughout the year, the Strait is always packed with a wide variety of nudibranch at almost every dive site. For underwater photographers, they are phenomenal macro subjects too.

Are you planning to come and dive in Lembeh? At Two Fish Divers Lembeh we have a friendly, professional crew who are experts at spotting even the tiniest and most unusual of critters. We also have dedicated facilities for photographers, including freshwater on our boats, camera wash tanks, and you’ll find that our resort rooms have plenty of sockets for charging your camera and accessories.

For more information about diving with us in Lembeh, fill in the contact form below and we will get right back to you.