"Looking to the Earth With Care"

Photo Copyright 2014 by Barry Fackler

That's the meaning of the species name, terramtuentis, for this nudibranch which was first identified in 1982.

gold lace nudibranch                     Halgerda terramtuentis

Golden Slug

In addition to finding that shark last weekend, I also found this gold lace nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis) sliding on the wall of a lava tube.

Photos Copyright 2013 by Barry Fackler

It's always a nice surprise to find one of these colorful cousins of terrestrial slugs as they're not that common.

Gold Lace Nudibranch Photos

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.