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Critter Identification / Archived topic

Are these nudibranchs?

Started by Islandbound ·

  • 4Posts
  • 4Replies

Read-only discussion

Are these nudibranchs?

4 posts
  1. I see it has the frills on the back of course but it has two sets of stalks on the head area like a snail or slug. Is this a nudibranch or something more common?

    2330903330100390769S600x600Q85.jpg

     

    2579648970100390769S600x600Q85.jpg

     

    Also, is this a Nudibranch or a worm? sorry for the incredibly bad photo but I had just started taking UW pictures in March of this year when I took this one.

    2027293700100390769S600x600Q85.jpg

    Edited by Islandbound
  2. It looks like a Sea Hare to me. Which is basically a type of Nudibranch I think.

     

    Cheers

    James

  3. James is partially right. It's a sea hare but it's an opistobranch. Nudibranchs are a subset of opistobranchs, not the other way around. Judging by the bluish rim on the parapodia (wings) it's probably the dark colored variant of Aplysia parvula.

     

    The second is a true nudibranch, Pteraeolidia ianthina. Common names nclude serpent sea slug, chinese dragon, and solar-powered sea slug. It eats hydroids & incorporates the stinging cells into it's own tissue for defense. In addition, these solar-powered slugs partially subsist on the byproducts of photosynthesis done by the chloroplaststhey also carries in their bodies.

  4. The first one looks like an Aplysia sea hare, perhaps Aplysia parvula?

     

    The second is a Pteraeolidia ianthina nudibranch.

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