Emerald Diving
Explore the coastal and inland waters of
Washington and BC
Explore the coastal and inland waters of
Washington and BC
Other Resources:
Species Index
Nudibranch Facts
Branchial plume: A bushy appendage located on the rear of the dorsum. This plume allows the nudibranch to breath and is often retracted when the animal senses danger.
Cerata: Formations protruding from the dorsum, usually thick and/or triangular in shape. Cerata may serve repertory, digestive, and/or defensive purposes, depending upon the species.
Dorid: Refers to the dome shaped body exhibited by various species of nudibranch.
Dorsum: The nudibranch’s back.
Margin: The perimeter around the foot or base of the nudibranch.
Papilla: Thin spike-like protrusions on the dorsum.
Radula: A nudibranch’s dentition. Nudibranch dentition is specialized to crack, scrape, or cut.
Rhinophores: The pair of small antenna-like protrusion on the head. These sensory organs are thought to allow the animal to detect chemical “smells” in the water. Rhinophore shapes vary between species.
Tubercles: Small bumps on the dorsum.
Cerata: Formations protruding from the dorsum, usually thick and/or triangular in shape. Cerata may serve repertory, digestive, and/or defensive purposes, depending upon the species.
Dorid: Refers to the dome shaped body exhibited by various species of nudibranch.
Dorsum: The nudibranch’s back.
Margin: The perimeter around the foot or base of the nudibranch.
Papilla: Thin spike-like protrusions on the dorsum.
Radula: A nudibranch’s dentition. Nudibranch dentition is specialized to crack, scrape, or cut.
Rhinophores: The pair of small antenna-like protrusion on the head. These sensory organs are thought to allow the animal to detect chemical “smells” in the water. Rhinophore shapes vary between species.
Tubercles: Small bumps on the dorsum.
Terms
Cool Facts
Giant, and lion nudibranchs are capable of a primitive form of swimming and considered pelagic species.
The word “nudibranch” literally translates to naked gill, reflecting the fact that the animal’s gills are normally exposed along its dorsum.
Most nudibranchs feed on soft corals, snails, anemones, hydroids, bryozoans, ascidians, and/or sponges.
Nudibranchs are often brightly colored as a warning that they taste bad. Some nudibranchs are even known to store the poisons of the animals that they ingest as a defense mechanism.
If you ever get a chance to watch a giant nudibranch approach a tube-dwelling anemone, be patient and watch. You may be in for a quite a spectacle!
Nudibranch are hermaphrodites, meaning they posses what we consider both male and female reproductive organs. The reproductive organs are typically located on the right side behind the "head" area, whichis why you often see nudibranch nestled together on their right side!
Nudibranch do indeed have eyes, but they are not like our eyes. Like many invertebrates, scientists believe nudibranch eyes can only snese light and dark. Nudibranchs use a myraid of other sensors we humans really can't related to for finding their way, including chemical sensory. These chemical sensor most likely help nudibranchs find food, navigate, and find mates.
The word “nudibranch” literally translates to naked gill, reflecting the fact that the animal’s gills are normally exposed along its dorsum.
Most nudibranchs feed on soft corals, snails, anemones, hydroids, bryozoans, ascidians, and/or sponges.
Nudibranchs are often brightly colored as a warning that they taste bad. Some nudibranchs are even known to store the poisons of the animals that they ingest as a defense mechanism.
If you ever get a chance to watch a giant nudibranch approach a tube-dwelling anemone, be patient and watch. You may be in for a quite a spectacle!
Nudibranch are hermaphrodites, meaning they posses what we consider both male and female reproductive organs. The reproductive organs are typically located on the right side behind the "head" area, whichis why you often see nudibranch nestled together on their right side!
Nudibranch do indeed have eyes, but they are not like our eyes. Like many invertebrates, scientists believe nudibranch eyes can only snese light and dark. Nudibranchs use a myraid of other sensors we humans really can't related to for finding their way, including chemical sensory. These chemical sensor most likely help nudibranchs find food, navigate, and find mates.
