nudibranchs
Colorful marine gastropods
Nudibranchs are soft-bodied marine mollusks that lack shells as adults—sea slugs, essentially.
They're known for vivid colors and elaborate appendages, often warning predators of toxicity.
The name comes from Latin for "naked gills," referring to the exposed breathing structures many species display on their backs.
Divers prize sightings of rare nudibranchs.
Single-shelled soft creature
- molluskSoft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
Capable of causing harm
- nematocystsStinging organelles of cnidarians
- sequesteredRemoved from contact
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- neurotoxicDamaging to nervous system
chemical defense · distasteful · stinging cells · spicules · unpalatable
Full of life, intensity
- iridescentShowing shifting spectral colors
- warningAlert about danger
- chromaticRelating to color
- fluorescentEmitting light when energized
bioluminescent · pigmented · patterned · striped · spotted · multicolored · brilliant · radiant
Covering or wrap
- footLeg's lowest part
- radulaMollusk scraping organ
- tuberclesSmall rounded protuberances
- papillaeSmall tissue protrusions
gills · velum · soft-bodied · bilateral · dorsal
Calcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- tidepoolCoastal rock hollow holding seawater
- benthicOf the sea bottom
- intertidalZone between high and low watermarks
- subtidalPermanently below waterline
kelp forest · sponge · hydroid · bryozoan · tunicate · rocky shore · seafloor · tropical
gastropod
Single-shelled soft creature
- molluskSoft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
genus · family · phylogenetics · cladistics · speciation
toxic
Capable of causing harm
- nematocystsStinging organelles of cnidarians
- sequesteredRemoved from contact
- venomousProducing injected toxins
neurotoxic · chemical defense · distasteful · stinging cells · spicules · unpalatable
vibrant
Full of life, intensity
- iridescentShowing shifting spectral colors
- warningAlert about danger
- chromaticRelating to color
fluorescent · bioluminescent · pigmented · patterned · striped · spotted · multicolored · brilliant · radiant · camouflaged
mantle
Covering or wrap
coral reef
Calcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- tidepoolCoastal rock hollow holding seawater
- benthicOf the sea bottom
- intertidalZone between high and low watermarks
subtidal · kelp forest · sponge · hydroid · bryozoan · tunicate · rocky shore · seafloor · tropical · temperate
carnivorous
Feeding on animal flesh
- cnidarianStinging aquatic invertebrate
- hydroidColonial marine invertebrate
- bryozoanColonial aquatic invertebrate
tunicate · detritivore · algae · grazing · scraping · predatory
nudibranchssnails
Shelled terrestrial gastropods
sea snails · conchs · whelks · cowries · periwinkles