Wormy nudibranch (Lomanotus vermiformis)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Nudibranchia · Family: Lomanotidae · Genus: Lomanotus.

Accepted name: Lomanotus vermiformis · Authority: Eliot, 1908 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 532992.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Lomanotus stauberi K. Clark & Goetzfried, 1976.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=532992 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Lomanotus vermiformis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 2.1 cm · Depth range: 0–11 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.

SeaLifeBase notes: Maximum depth from Ref. 123909. Assumed maximum length from Ref. 822. Very cryptic on its hydroid prey. Subtidal (Ref. 415); Found on Lytocarpus sp. (Ref. 822).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 2116) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Lomanotus-vermiformis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

157 georeferenced occurrence records for Lomanotus vermiformis are published through GBIF from 23 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 42 distinct locations from a sample of 157 records, omitting 11 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: New Caledonia (38); United States of America (24); Japan (11); Australia (10); Mexico (10); Philippines (10); Thailand (10); Singapore (9); Hong Kong (7); Indonesia (5); Panama (4); Malaysia (3); Oman (3); United Arab Emirates (2); India (2).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2292079) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2292079&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=532992 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

This species was synonymised with the Caribbean species Lomanotus stauberi in 1988.

The specific name vermiformis is from Latin language and it means "in the shape of a worm" referring to elongate body of this species.

The distribution of Lomanotus vermiformis is circumtropical. This species was described from the Red Sea. It has also been reported widely from tropical seas in the Indo-Pacific region. Records from the Western Atlantic includes Florida, Bahamas and Panama.

The body shape is very elongate and narrow. Rhinophoral sheaths are with papillae and they are elevated to cover three quarters of the rhinophores. Cerata are very short and pointed. Background color is brown with dark brown spots and opaque yellow lines. Opaque white reticulations is also present across the body. The maximum recorded body length is 40 mm, but it is usually smaller than 25 mm.

Minimum recorded depth is 1 m. Maximum recorded depth is 4.5 m.

Lomanotus vermiformis feeds on the common stinging hydroid Lytocarpus philippinus and on hydroids of the genus Macrorhynchia. It was also found feeding on an unidentified species of hydroid in Panama, on which it is extremely cryptic.

Lomanotus vermiformis can swim with lateral flexions of the body when disturbed.

Source: Wikipedia: Lomanotus vermiformis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lomanotus_vermiformis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.