Tag Archives: Sea Slugs

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Peter Baye was tide pooling recently when he saw this Opalescent Nudibranch.

Nudibranchs are mollusks in the class Gastropoda, which includes snails, slugs, limpets, and sea hairs. Their common name is Sea Slugs, which doesn't do justice to their beauty. John Thompson photographed a Clown Dorid Nudibranch some time ago.

And Loren Adrian photographed a Hopkin's Rose Nudibranch. This particular nudibranch was previously found to our south, but over the past several years, we've had sightings of a few off our coast.

Just a small sample of the beautiful life that lives in the ocean.

Thanks to Peter, John and Loren for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Sunny, mild weather, though I see the fog low on the ocean. The full moon setting early this morning was quite wonderful to see. Happy Halloween!

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   Nudibranchs are very colorful Sea Slugs. You won't believe your eyes when you see Ken's photographs! They look like alien beings. Living on the Mendonoma Coast, I look out over the ocean. I never dreamed these creatures were hidden beneath the water. Thanks to underwater photographer Ken Bailey for allowing me to share his photos here. Also thanks to writer David Behrens for the ID of these beautiful Nudibranchs.
                                                     Clown Dorid - Triopha catalinae
                                          

Spanish Shawl - Flabellina iodinea
Porter's Chromodorid - Chromodoris porterae

David says this last one is rare and isn't seen north of Monterey. Ken told me he may have photographed it down there or "maybe he's a good swimmer."