Description: This sea slug reaches a maximum size of 45 mm. The body is smooth and elongate, with rolled rhinophores. It ranges in colour from a bright green to dark red and has bright spotting in blue, red or green. Parapodia (lateral extensions of foot) run almost the whole length of the body and there are usually green chloroplasts visible. Elysia viridis retains chloroplasts from its algal food and uses them to photosynthesise.

Habitat: Uusally found on algae, especially Codium spp. Found from lower shore to shallow sublittoral, where there is suitable algae present.

Distribution: Found on all coasts around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species.

Key Identification Features:

• Bright green to red colouration.
• Obvious bright spotting in blue, red or green.
• Chloroplasts usually visible.

Distribution Map from NBN: Elysia viridis at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Elysia viridis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Elysia viridis

WoRMS: Elysia viridis at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Elysia viridis (Montagu, 1804). AphiaID: 139686.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Gastropoda; Heterobranchia; Euthyneura; Tectipleura; Sacoglossa; Plakobranchoidea; Plakobranchidae; Elysia