A Nudibranch laying an egg spiral on a Polycarpa aurata sea squirt.
Aroogula asked and ye shall receive.
Nudibranchs. I think everyone agrees that these are some of the most beautiful ocean creatures that you’ll ever find, but i feel like a lot of people don’t know much about the science of them.
There’s around 3000 species of Nudibranchs, so its quite a large group of organisms; all lack shells when fully grown. All are carnivorous, feeding on Hydrozoans, a class of animals related to jellyfish, sponges and some on other sea slugs.
Some Nudibranchs have an incredibly cool mechanism that enables them to feed on stinging Hydrozoans and the like: They can “steal” the stinging cells and assimilate them into their own tissues and use them for defence.
A similar mechanism also allows them to take in chloroplasts so that they can photosynthesise.
They really are amazing creatures.
nuumber 2,
here’s an Emperor Shrimp hitching a ride on a nudibranch, which they often do.
two new followers, as usual, no names, but here’s your bubble raft snail anyways, follower number 1:)
for singmemoonstruck18, a nudibranch!
i know these are posted to death on tumblr, but i don’t think I’ve seen this one before, and its beautiful.
