Lettuce Sea Slug

Tridachia crispata

Sighting evidence at Sandy Island, Antigua and Barbuda

Photo: terence zahner · CC BY-NC

The vivid green lettuce sea slug is abundant in the shallows around Sandy Island, grazing on algae in the seagrass beds and on the rubble patches adjacent to the coral. This sacoglossan species harvests chloroplasts from algae and incorporates them into its own tissue to photosynthesize, one of the few animals capable of this feat. Their bright ruffled margins make them a favourite macro photography subject in the site's clearest shallows.

Evidence at this site

2 records within 25 km

Confidence: low

Last confirmed Jul 2025

Seasonality

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How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Lettuce Sea Slug

Evidence at this site

Seasonality

Also seen at other sites