Nudibranchia species

Behavior:

Nudibranchs are a group of soft-bodied marine molluscs. They are mostly benthic animals, found crawling over the substrate. There are around 3,000 species of nudibranch, which occur in a wide range of shapes and colors and can be found throughout the world’s oceans from the poles to the tropics. They are often incorrectly referred to as sea slugs, which are a separate group of marine organisms. Nudibranchs are carnivorous, commonly feeding on hydroids, sponges and bryozoans. They also engage in cannibalism.

Predators:

Wrasses, butterflyfish, triggerfish as well as crabs, shrimp, sea stars, turtles and seabirds.

Did you know?

The word nudibranch has Latin and Greek origins and essentially means “naked gills” in reference to the exposed gill filaments that are often located on their back in what is sometimes referred to as a branchial plume or rosette.