Nudibranchs belong to sea slugs and this is a Elysia ornata. Nudibranch ( photo / image / picture from songlim18's Garden )
That is a beautiful creature, I love the colors with the orange edging...nice photo. We went to a wedding dinner many years ago where sea slug was one of the dishes served but I just couldn't bring myself to try it.
Lovely sea slug! I do like them, they're so alien and colourful. Toni, I've eaten sea snails. It tastes wonderful.
Gorgeous photography, SG. This slug is a real beauty. Good thing that this type does not exit in my garden, for I do not think that I could kill it.
I am just looking at this guy again -- he is really fascinating. His colors are amazing -- I was just noticing the little orange tips on his antennae... like headlights. I wonder what purpose this bright color serves for him?
There are many types of nudibranchs (pronounced 'noo-dee-brank' to rhyme with 'bank') and this is just one of them. I know sea cucumbers are edible but I am not sure about this sea slug. They are so flimsy and soft. Nudibranchs possess fantastic coloration and color patterns. They should not be called "slugs". It has a pair of horn-like cephalic tentacles or "rhinophores" at the front, that are used primarily as chemosensory organs (sensing chemicals). To protect themselves from predators many developed toxic or bad tasting glands in the skin, and their bright colors warn predators of their horrible taste.
Very interesting. I did a little Google and found a neat site with a lot of photos -- there are some amazing colorations. I think yours is the nicest shot of the Elysia Ornata with his fabulous color.
Thank you, THey appear to be slimy an slitter thru your fingers like a worm. Then they change colors perhaps to match the area they are in ? cute anyways.
