Chromodoris Nudibranch

Chromodoris annae is one of Komodo's most photogenic nudibranch species, featuring a stunning royal blue body trimmed with a bright orange-yellow border around the mantle edge. These small, soft-bodied sea slugs are a highlight of Komodo's macro diving scene, crawling slowly across sponge-covered reef surfaces as they graze on their preferred food source. Like all nudibranchs, they lack any protective shell and instead rely on their vivid colouration to warn predators of their unpalatable taste — chemicals sequestered from the toxic sponges they consume. The feathery gills on their posterior and the rhinophores on their head are delicate sensory organs used for detecting chemical cues in the water. In Komodo, these beautiful animals are commonly found at reef walls and on sponge-encrusted boulders at a range of depths. Nudibranch hunting — the patient art of searching the reef for these tiny, colourful gems — is a beloved pastime for macro photographers, and Chromodoris annae is often one of the first species ticked off the list.