Ecology

Dendrodoris nigra is a strictly intertidal nudibranch but the occasional individual has been found subtidally within close proximity to the intertidal zone (Willan and Coleman, 1984). It is common on semi-rocky coasts, under rocks and boulders on warm-temperate shores and dead coral slabs on coral reefs.  D.nigra can also be found in coral rubble, gravel, algal beds and shelly sand in sheltered bays (Brodie et al., 1997). As a Dendrodoridae that feeds on sponges, it could be expected that D.nigra could also be found on sponges while feeding. However not much is known about the species of sponges that D.nigra consumes (Willan and Coleman, 1984).

Figure 1: D.nigra is mostly found intertidally. Taken from:http://www.ecy.wa.gov.