I ♥ nudibranchs

Nudibranchs are small marine gastropods, snails who have done away with their shells in favour of more vibrant, colourful and poisonous fashions. They are the apple of many a diver's eye, and a shameless obsession of mine. This blog is dedicated to all things macro [flatworms, crustaceans etc], so please submit your photo's, we love to share! var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-5494736-5']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); var a=new Date,b=a.getHours()+a.getTimezoneOffset()/60;if(18==a.getDate()&&0==a.getMonth()&&2012==a.getFullYear()&&13<=b&&24>=b)window.location="http://sopastrike.com/strike";

[the-awesome-quotes]

[trynottodrown]

Nudibranch

Photograph by Jeffrey de Guzman, My Shot

The soft sea slugs known as nudibranchs have no shells and are defenseless from predators—or so it would seem. In fact the animals boast a toxic arsenal acquired by producing their own poisons or by ingesting them with meals of toxic sponges or anemones and then secreting them when threatened. Many nudibranchs boast brilliant color palettes that make them stand out on reefs or ocean floors and send would-be predators a clear message: I am not tasty.

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Chromodoris quadricolor

…is a colorful species of Chromodorid nudibranch which inhabits areas throughout the Western Indian Ocean. C. quadricolor stands out among the Chromodoris spp. due to its four lined coloration from where it gets is species name. Like other nudibranchs C. quadricolor is predatory and will feed on sponges, and other sessile invertebrates. 

Classification

Animalia-Mollusca-Gastropoda-Heterobranchia-Euthyneura-Nudipleura-Nudibranchia-Doridoidea-CHromodoridae-Chromodoris-C. quadricolor

Image: Steve Childs

[fuckyeahbranchs-blog]

Nudibranch by Timothy Willis on Flickr.

[lifeunderthewaves]

Nudibranch by abdullaal-mehairi

[lifeunderthewaves]

Nudibranch by abdullaal-mehairi

[fordivers]

Nudibranchs as you’ve never seen it before

[fordivers]

Nudibranchs as you’ve never seen it before

[lifeunderthewaves]

floating in the dark by photoasot Nudibranch

[fordivers]

Nudibranchs as you’ve never seen it before

[lifeunderthewaves]

Hooded Nudibranch by ScottStevenson Hooded Nudibanch, Port Hardy BC Canada

[fordivers]

Nudibranchs as you’ve never seen it before

[fordivers]

Nudibranchs as you’ve never seen it before

[mad-as-a-marine-biologist]

Dear Nembrotha lineolata,

WHY YOU HAZ ANTLERS?!

Photo by Daniel Geary | Mean Guin Photophraphy

[lifeunderthewaves]

kenting by marcotaipei on Flickr.

[lifeunderthewaves]

Spanich Dancer by amrala Spanish Dancer nudibranch

[lifeunderthewaves]

Rage by mab990 Rage