Lettuce Sea Slug

Elysia crispata

Markings and exact colorations may vary.

A ruffled green sea slug that looks like a leaf of frilly lettuce and runs partly on sunlight.

Typical size
1–3 in
How often it turns up
Uncommon
Collecting
Protected, do not collect

Living beach animals should be photographed and left where they are. Many are protected, and most cannot survive being moved.

Handling
Photograph and release

How to tell it apart

  • Heavily ruffled green frills
  • Blue or white speckling
  • Slow-moving, on shallow rubble

Where to find these in Florida

Beaches rated very good or excellent for tidepool life. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.

Found one?

Photograph it and BeachNut ranks the likely matches with a confidence read, then logs it to your collection with the beach and date.

Browsing beaches and the full field guide is free. A free account logs unlimited finds and gives you three photo identifications a day.

More tidepool life in the field guide

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