Nudibranchs are a group of sea slugs characterized by having no shell, thus having their gills exposed. The name in latin, nudibranchia means precisely that: nudi (nude, exposed) + branchia (gills).
Instead of the protective shell, the nudibranchs use other intricate defense mechanisms and that's one of the reasons they are such an interesting group to study. Not to mention their exquisite appearance.
More info about this species:
www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/tritmani
hypselodoris.blogspot.com/2011/04/tritonia-manicata-desha...
I'm at a total loss on this one. Looks just like a stretched out Elysia, but in the Macrocystis canopy, no Codium around anywhere and doesn't look like E. hedgpethi to me.
I've only seen these twice, but I never noticed that it actually had a shell. Neato.
ID as per Markus Niemeyer (Nudibranch Hunters of Florida FB group)
Two specimens, next to their egg mass, and 9 individuals of their didemnid anemone prey (the small, pale pink blobs). Found on the underside of a low intertidal boulder before dawn.
Nudibranchs are a group of sea slugs characterized by having no shell, thus having their gills exposed. The name in latin, nudibranchia means precisely that: nudi (nude, exposed) + branchia (gills).
Instead of the protective shell, the nudibranchs use other intricate defense mechanisms and that's one of the reasons they are such an interesting group to study. Not to mention their exquisite appearance.
More info about this species:
www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/tritmani
hypselodoris.blogspot.com/2011/04/tritonia-manicata-desha...
Images by Brenna Green of a specimen I found in the low intertidal. Formerly classified as Aplysia parvula, I just found out that this Eastern Pacific species was described in 2019 and named after my friend and colleague Craig Hoover; thus the post. Congratulations, Craig!
3rd image shows the shore where the specimen was found (water edge of cobbles at left).