Modest Clown Dorid
Triopha modesta
Marine Invertebrates
Rocky subtidal habitat
iNaturalist record: Aug 2023
Meet this species
The modest clown dorid is a nudibranch - a shell-less marine gastropod whose exposed body displays structures that would be hidden inside the shell of many other molluscs. Its elaborate form is a reminder that some of the most visually spectacular inhabitants of Greene Point are also among the easiest to overlook.
Modest clown dorid sea slug photographed underwater near Greene Point.
What to look for:
Look for a small, colourful sea slug with a compact body and branching structures on its back. The animal may be only a few centimetres long, so slow searching and close observation of rocky surfaces can reveal far more than scanning for large animals.
Why It Matters Here:
Sea slugs are ideal ambassadors for small-scale biodiversity. They reward curiosity, careful observation and underwater exploration, helping visitors understand that ecological richness is not measured only by the largest or most familiar animals.
Field Record
Documented at Greene Point through field observations and photographs recorded on iNaturalist.