New Sea Slug Species Discovered in Taiwan's Coastal Waters
Tiny “sesame” sea slug discovered in Taiwan turns out to be a new species
Science Daily
Image: Science Daily
A new species of sea slug, Thecacera sesama, smaller than a sesame seed, has been discovered in Taiwan's northern coastal waters. This translucent nudibranch, named for its sesame-like appearance, highlights the potential for many undiscovered marine species in the region.
- 01Thecacera sesama measures less than three millimeters in length and features distinctive black and yellow markings.
- 02The species was first spotted in 2019 by Ho-Yeung Chan, a student who later identified it with the help of an expert on social media.
- 03Research on this species is limited to about four months annually due to harsh weather conditions in Taiwan.
- 04The sea slug primarily feeds, mates, and lays eggs on bryozoans, which may also be a previously unknown species.
- 05This discovery suggests that many tiny marine species remain unidentified in Taiwan's waters.
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A new species of sea slug, named Thecacera sesama, has been discovered off the coast of Keelung, Taiwan. This tiny nudibranch, measuring less than three millimeters, is notable for its black-and-yellow appearance resembling sesame seeds. The slug was first spotted in 2019 by Ho-Yeung Chan during a casual dive. Initially unaware of its significance, Chan later confirmed its status as a new species with the assistance of a sea slug expert on Facebook. Research efforts to study T. sesama have been hampered by Taiwan's challenging weather conditions, limiting underwater surveys to roughly four months each year. The sea slug is found living on bryozoans, which may also be an undiscovered species. This finding underscores the likelihood of many more hidden marine species in Taiwan's coastal waters, as nudibranchs play a crucial role in marine ecosystems despite their small size. The study detailing this discovery was published in the journal ZooKeys on May 11, 2026.
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The discovery of Thecacera sesama highlights the biodiversity in Taiwan's marine ecosystems, suggesting that many more species may be undiscovered.
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