Monday, August 26, 2024

Little wonder

  

Camouflage week continues!

You might recall that back on 14 July 2024, I introduced this amazing nudibranch, Corambe pacifica.  I also mentioned that I needed to get a better photo.  Well, here you go!  And, lucky us...Eric was also able to record some beautiful video clips.

Things to look for: 

- how well the color and patterning of the nudibranch match the bryozoan in the background

- two rhinophores (sense organs) near the leading edge (viewed from above, they look like a pair of white spots)

- a small notch along the back edge of the nudibranch

- when viewed up close, sometimes you can catch a glimpse of the branched gills inside the notch (more about the gills in a future post!)

Here's the video clip (below).  [If you can't see the video player in the e-mail message, just click on the title of the post above to go directly to the NHBH web page.]

Stay tuned for more about Corambe pacifica.

And thanks to Eric for the great video!

2 comments:

  1. Watching full-screen was awesome. Is the slug eating the bryozoan? It looks like it's mouth is working just behind the rhinophores (on the bottom of its transluscent body).

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  2. Hi, John!

    Yes, Corambe is a bryozoan specialist. Sometimes they're described as 'suctorial' = basically sucking the zooids out of their little boxes. And because Corambe is transparent, you can see their buccal pump in action. (Note: you can also see their heart beating in the mid-dorsal area.)

    :) Jackie

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