Distribution: Not commonly encountered in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Recorded from the Red Sea. Known from southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Ecological Notes: Found under slabs of dead coral in shallow coral and rocky reef areas, often in communal groups. Feeds on soft corals Xenia sp. Depth to at least 20 m.

Additional Notes: Often identified as M. cyanobranchiata, which is now thought to be a Red Sea species. Variable colouration from pink and brown through blue to green. Dorsal covered with large pustules and feathery gills. Small specimen 20 mm long in bottom photograph. Grows to 140 mm.

References: Gary Cobb, David Mullins, Nudibranchs Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition, 2015. Publishers Thomas Slone, Masalai Press and Tim Hochgrebe, Underwater Australasia. p.294-5.

Australian Museum, Sea Slug Forum. http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/maricyan. Accessed 12/08/18.

Matt J. Nimbs, Stephen D.A. Smith, An Illustrated Inventory of the Sea Slugs of New South Wales, Australia (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia). The Royal Society of Victoria, 128, 44-113, 2016 10.1071/RS16011. CSIRO Publishing. p.80.