I've heard of several observations in Sonoma County this summer, but this is the first Hopkins' Rose nudibranch (Ceratodoris rosacea) I've seen this year. Thanks so much to Chris for spotting it!
This is a species that can appear in Northern California during and after El Niño events, so it's possible we're seeing a somewhat lagged response to warmer water conditions during the past year.
2 comments:
So utterly magical.
Jackie- do they change hue/tone of color depending on conditions or their activities?
Hi!
There is a relationship between the color of these nudibranchs and the color of their prey. In this photo, the background is surfgrass (Phyllospadix), but Hopkins' Rose nudibranchs prey on a pink bryozoan (Eurystomella bilabiata) -- which is easier to see in this older post:
https://bodegahead.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-rosacea-by-any-other-name.html
:) Jackie
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