About Ceratosoma tenue Abraham, 1876
Ceratosoma tenue can reach a maximum length of 12 centimetres (4.7 inches). Its body coloration is extremely variable, but always consists of bright colors. Body color is not a useful identification characteristic for this species, as it can easily be confused with Ceratosoma tribolatum. Distinctive physical traits for this species are three mantle lobes on each side of the front half of the body, and the purple margin of the mantle and foot is formed as a dotted line. Like many species in the genus Ceratosoma, C. tenue has a "horn" that covers the gills. This structure acts like a lure and also functions as a defensive chemical weapon, deterring any potential predator that attempts to bite this area. The gills and rhinophores of Ceratosoma tenue can retract into internal sheaths. This sea slug is widely distributed across tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the eastern African coast to Hawaii.
