Nudibranchs occur worldwide and are marine snails that have no shell (or in which the shell is significantly reduced), which are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms. The suborder Nudibranchia is the largest suborder of with more than 3,000 described species. The word “nudibranch” comes from the Latin nudus, naked, and the Greek brankhia, gills. They live at virtually all depths, but reach their greatest size and variation in warm, shallow waters.
- video by Nick Hope
How do these bright coloured, slow-moving creatures escape predators? Nature’s ways are frequently ingenious and the protective devices employed by nudibranchs are clever indeed. The flesh of opishthobranchs is frequently toxic or distasteful due to various chemical secretions. The bright “poster coloured” patterns serve to warn potential predators of their inedible qualities. These colours have most likely evolved in response to the threat of fish predators in view of their intelligence and visual acuity. Once a fish inadvertently samples a sour nudibranch it is not likely to forget this experience. In subsequent encounters the nudibranch’s bold color pattern serves to remind the fish of its inedible qualities and it is ignored.
All photos are by David Doubilet and are available to purchase
Sources:
http://www.nudibranch.com.au/aboutnudibranchs.html
http://www.reefed.edu.au/home/explorer/animals/marine_invertebrates/molluscs/nudibranchs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F57QZBrWZEI&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudibranch
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/06/nudibranchs/doubilet-photography?email=pom_20080515
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