Disco Doris Sea Slug

I’ve waited a long time to see this sea slug, and maybe they are like buses - after years of looking without success, this year I’ve seen nearly a dozen. The ‘disco Doris’ sea slug (Gargamella rosi) was first seen in the UK in 2008. Since then, it has been spreading gradually in the southwest, and this year has been very common at times in Cornwall, with its stunning orange colour and circular markings.

Disco Doris is a sea slug that feeds on sponges, and gets its colour from its diet. It also ingests toxins from the sponges, that it uses as a defence against predators itself. Although it is likely quite camouflaged against sponges when feeding, it certainly stands out a lot when moving around the wider environment. Sea slugs become a bit less common as the year goes on, but I’m still excited to see what other species I can find this year and beyond.