The Purple Lined Nembrotha (Nembrotha rutilans) is a very colourful tropical nudibranch species that can be found along the east coast of Australia as far south as Sydney. It is known as a tropical nudibranch species which occasionally drifts down on the East Australian Current into the New South Wales coast, and if conditions are right, settles and grows to maturity.
This nudibranch is a hermaphrodite meaning that both partners receive sperm from the other during mating. The species can be found along the New South Wales coast feeding on the yellow-lined ascidian Clavelina meridionalis (Herdman, 1891) which appears to be one of their favourite food sources. The species has been found at lengths of up to 12cms.
This species is also commonly referred to as the 'Red-Gilled Nembrotha' and the common name will vary between the literature.
