Nudibranchs Overview

• Nudibranch, meaning naked gills
• More than 3000 species
• Range in size from less than 1 mm to 60 cm
• Range in colour, can be extremely colourful to camouflaged and dull
• Only a few can swim, slow moving usually
• Shed their shells after their larval stage
• Consume food with their foot, which is used for most other bodily functions as well
• In reproduction most nudibranch are hermaphrodites, increasing mating opportunities
• Nudibranchs are carnivorous e.g. barnacles. Sponges, anenomes, sea slugs, eggs, some are cannabalistic
• Some ingest posionous anemones to use the poison as a defense for themselves
• Very few predators, turtles, crabs, humans, other nudibranchs
• Coastal areas in Chile, Alaska & Russia boil and eat nudibranchs, but is an acquired texture and taste
• Can live for a few weeks to a year