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Family  Oxynoidae

Animals of the Oxynoidae have an oval external shell that covers only the visceral mass, leaving the head-foot exposed. The animals are brightly coloured light to dark green and elaborately shaped, with a long 'tail" used as a propellor for swimming. There are parapodia, also used for swimming, that partly cover the shell. They live in association with the alga Caulerpa, on which they feed and shelter.

Only two species of this family are recorded from NSW. Both have an external shell:

Oxynoe viridis (Pease, 1861)

Oxynoe sp. 1

These species are illustrated on the Sea Slug Forum.