Sapsuckers, Plakobranchidae (Elysias, Thuridillas, Polybranchia)

These animals come by their common name “sapsuckers” legitimately.  Nearly all of them use their radular tooth (they have more but they store used ones??) to puncture the cells of algae and suck out their contents — rather vampire-like, but innocent, and totally different in that many are diurnal, and most are herbivores.  Some are bright, brilliant — stunning actually. Others are more subtle, blending into the algae upon which they feed.  Some even have translucent cerata with visible digestive glands that look like coniferous trees, palms and even  small hands . . . check them out!  If you want a more serious, scientific take on the order to which they belong (Sacoglossa), please head to Sea Slugs of Hawaii