Mumbai: Rare sea slug spotted at Haji Ali; first record in India

Discodorid cebuensis photographed at Haji Ali. Pic/Vaibhav Haldipur

Mumbai has recorded a rare marine sighting, with a species of sea slug, Discodorid cebuensis, documented in India for the first time at Haji Ali on April 21, 2026. The species was earlier recorded in the Philippines, making this a significant find for marine researchers. Wildlife enthusiasts Vaibhav Haldipur, Amey Parkar, and Johnson Varkey spotted the sea slug during an outing.

Species traits

Experts said the species belongs to the Discodorididae family - a group of dorid nudibranchs found across the tropical Indo-West Pacific. Typically associated with coral reefs and sponge-rich habitats, its presence along India's western coast is ecologically consistent, though previously undocumented.

Haldipur noted that the identification was based on distinct body features. The animal had a flat, slightly squashed shape with small bumps on its back, a firm outer covering with tiny support structures, and a thin line running along the centre from the rhinophores to the gills - traits characteristic of the Discodoris genus.