| Invertebrate Photo Gallery |
Nudibranchs
A diverse groups of Mollusks
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| One of the many beautiful nudibranchs that are part of the Gastropod class of mollusks.
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Nudibranchs are a diverse group of mollucs that lack shells. They are found on coral
reefs around the world and are often found moving over coral rubble, sand
or sessile invertebrates. Some of the nudibranchs are carnivorous, feeding on encrusting
organisms, like sponges, moss animals and corals. Many are brightly
colored. Their color many serve to warn potential predators that they are distasteful.
There are some nudibranchs that store toxins or stinging cells from the invertebrates
they feed on, which they then use for their own defense. There are also nudibranchs that store the unicellular algae, found in their soft coral prey, in cerata found on their backs. The algae provide the mollusc with nutrients that are a byproduct of photosynthesis (in the same way they benefit
the corals they inhabit).
All nudibranchs are hermaphroditic; that is, they possess both male and female sex
organs. However, they rarely engage in self-fertilization. Instead, nudibranchs usually
mate in pairs, with the courting individuals positioning themselves in a head to tail
orientation. They deposit a ribbon-like egg mass on the substrate. When the eggs hatch,
the larvae enter the plankton (this is known as the veliger phase of the life cycle).
The life of a nudibranch is quite short, ranging from less than six weeks to one year
depending on the species.
All Photos © Janine Cairns-Michael 2000, All Rights Reserved.
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