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Sea slug Flabellina pedata

Flabellina pedata by Paul Naylor

Violet sea slug

Scientific name: Edmundsella pedata
Despite its dazzling colouration, this fabulous nudibranch can be easily missed, due to its small size!

Species information

Statistics

Up to 5cm long.

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

April – October.

About

Eggs are laid as a thin, white thread and can sometimes be easier to spot than the sea slug itself!

How to identify

A very small nudibranch with striking violet/pinky-purple colouration, with white tips to the projections running along its back.

Distribution

Found around all British coasts.

Habitats

Did you know?

All nudibranchs are sea slugs, but not all sea slugs are nudibranchs!

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.