Godiva quadricolor
The Four-colour Nudibranch is a shell-less mollusc found naturally along the South African coast, but has also been recorded as an exotic alien in Australia and the Mediterranean, where it is thought they were transported to by commercial shipping. They live from the intertidal zone to a depth of up to 20m. Their cerata – the “horns” covering the 4cm long body in bold warning colours – are tipped with stinging nematocysts, which the slug uses to protect itself. These slugs are predators, feeding on other nudibranchs, hydrozoa and other small organisms, while also probably feeding on the remains of dead vertebrates. Like other slugs and snails they are hermaphrodites and produce masses of eggs that hatch within 4 days of being fertilized (internally) and laid.
While visiting with Marilize’s parents in Jeffreys Bay over the New Year we came across this beautiful slug in a rock pool at the main beach. I think its natural beauty is further enhanced by the multitude of colourful shell shards surrounding it in these pictures.
DeWetsWild 
It really is pretty! It doesn’t even look like it’s underwater.
Thank goodness it was enjoying a quite pool behind a strip of rocks, otherwise the photo’s wouldn’t have been this clear.
Lucky for you! 🙂
Mother Nature creates such a panoply of strange and beautiful creatures….❤️
Of course we agree wholeheartedly, Lori!
Ek het nog nooit hierdie dingetjie gesien nie en jy het sulke mooi foto’s geneem.
Dankie, Corna! Ek kan ook nie onthou dat ons dié soort al gesien het nie. Dié naakslak het darem so pragtig gelyk tussen die fyn stukkies skulp, ek sou vir myself baie vies gewees het as ek die foto’s opgemors het!
Jul het darem fyn waargeneem om die ou so op sy tog af te neem. Baie baie interessant.
Marilize het hom eerste opgemerk, Ineke. Regtig een van die interessantste goed wat ons nog in die natuur gesien het.
Dink net hoe ryk jou kennis word en reeds is.
Dit is nuut vir my! Wat ‘n interressante kreatuurtjie. Ons gaan Maart maand na Jeffreys… ek gaan loer of ek hom ook kan raaksien.
Stuur vir hom groete as jy hom sien, Elsabe! Miskien onthou hy die Vaalies wat hom so geteister het met hulle kameras! 😉
Now you are really branching out – that should be under – from your comfort zone of birds, animals and butterflies! Lovely photographs.
Thank you, Anne. There’s more to see in this country than can be fit into one lifetime. The older I get, the more sure I am of that.
They are pretty weird and interesting looking, Dries. My beachcombers have seen some down the southeast coast of Australia. Globalisation, eh?
Yep, our meddling knows no bounds…
It is quite pretty but I will look only and not touch.
That holds true for most wild creatures, Lois. Some of them get very nasty when you try and play with them.
I had never seen this mollusc before. Thanks, D. 🙂
As far as I can remember it was also the first time we saw this kind, H.J.
Fascinating and beautiful.
Oh absolutely, Lakshmi!