Ecology
Placida dendritica can be found living on green algae growing on corals and rocky substrate in the shallow waters of the Heron Island reef crest (See photo (a)). This species is also common in subtidal pools with abundant algae (Trowbridge, 2001). P. dendritica has been recorded predominantly on the algae genera Bryopsis and Codium (Trowbridge, 1992; Jensen, 1991). P. dendritica camouflages perfectly against these algal hosts as it retains the chloroplasts it ingests in its digestive tissue (see photo (b)) (Maeda et al. 2010; Marzo et al. 1993).
Photo (a): Heron Island reef crest, September 2013. Small tufts of green algae in amongst the coral provides suitable habitat for Placida dendritica.
Photo (b): The cryptic nature of Placida dendritica. An individual (circled in red) is camouflaged against a grass-like green algae.
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