Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler
A couple of weekends ago, I was fortunate enough to happen upon this beautiful Gold Lace Nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) while poking around in the tight confines of a swim-through. Usually I have a hard time spotting nudis because they are so small and not particularly common.
Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler
I like these photos because the creature shows up so nicely against the backdrop of bright red encrusting sponge (Clathria sp.). Nudibranchs feed on sponges like these and incorporate sponge toxins into their own tissues, making them poisonous to would-be predators. Some authorities believe that the bright colors and patterns of nudibranchs are a signal that they are poisonous.
Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler
The term nudibranch comes from the Latin for naked gills. The bushy black-spotted projection on its back are the gills. The paired, black-spotted "horns" are sensory organs known as rhinophores.
Photo Copyright 2011 by Barry Fackler
Nudibranchs are the marine equivalent of terrestrial slugs but much nicer to look at.
Great find, and nice pics. They really show the details of the nudi very nicely :)
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