Giant nudibranch attack from British Columbia

June 29, 2005
From: Marli Wakeling


Hi Bill,
Thought this series of photos goes to show that nudibranchs don't see very well! This time of year there are dozens of these [Dendronotus iris ], but only in the white form. This is an unusual colour form: any ideas why there are some individuals with such a different colour?

Locality: Bowyer Island North, Howe Sound, British Columbia, Canada,
Pacific coast. Depth: 45 feet. Length: 30 cm. 12 June 2005. shell and sand bottom. Photographer: Marli Wakeling

Cheers,
Marli

scubamarli@gmail.com

Wakeling, M., 2005 (Jun 29) Giant nudibranch attack from British Columbia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14068

Thanks Marli,
It does look rather comical. For those of you unfamiliar with these animals, Dendronotus iris feeds on this tube forming sea anemone, Pachycerianthus fimbriatus, which is able to witdraw rapidly into its tube when attacked. The white 'nose' on the nudibranch is ist everted buccal bulb, which contains the buccal mass and radular teeth which it uses - when successful - to grasp and bight the sea anemone. As you say, this is a good illustration of how little they can see.

Concerning colour variation. I know nothing about colour in these species.. Perhaps they retain pigments from their food, but that would mean the Pachycerianthus was variable in colour, or perhaps its genetic varaibility.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Jun 29). Comment on Giant nudibranch attack from British Columbia by Marli Wakeling. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14068

Factsheet

Dendronotus iris

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