Nembrotha purpureolineata

Indo-west Pacific oceans.

Cream body with brown markings on the dorsum. The non-retractable gills are brown with white edge. The retractable rhinophores are lamellate.

Nembrotha purpureolineata and chamberlaini are frequently confused. This is because purpureolineata does not always have stripes but may have blotches like chamberlaini. The best way to distinguish them is by the gill colouring. Chamberlaini has solid red gills on a stalk running into a back patch of the same colour. Purpureolineata has gills that fade to a lighter colour and the stalk is a different colour - usually lighter. Purpureolineata when full grown is larger at 120mm (Chamberlaini 60mm) but you may be looking at a juvenile.