Fauna
Invertebrate

Pikachu Nudibranch

Thecacera pacifica

Also known as Pikachu Sea Slug, Pacific Thecacera

Pikachu nudibranchs are striking marine gastropods easily recognized by their bright orange-yellow bodies tipped with electric blue and black accents. These small sea slugs crawl slowly over rocky reefs in the tropical Indo-Pacific, using their sensory rhinophores to locate food. Their distinctive color pattern serves as a warning to predators of their toxic chemical defenses.

MarineColorfulBenthic
Pikachu Nudibranch reference
"Thecacera pacifica 太平洋多角海蛞蝓" by Chiu Yao is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyBryozoans, Bugula dentata
Predators
  • Crabs
  • Sea spiders
  • Predatory sea slugs
ThreatsHabitat degradation and water pollution
HabitatsTropical rocky and coral reefs
Life spanUp to 1 year
Classification
  1. FamilyPolyceridae
  2. SpeciesThecacera pacifica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance; avoid touching their delicate bodies.
Responsible observation
  • Look Closely: Search among green bryozoan colonies on shaded reef walls where they feed.
  • Avoid Touching: Their soft bodies are extremely fragile and easily damaged by physical contact.
  • Use Macro Lenses: Capture their vibrant details with a camera rather than disturbing their position.
Related species
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