I have included a few miscellaneous items in here, some interesting cowrie shells
which are also in the mollusk family that includes nudibranchs. I am sure everyone
has seen a shiny varnished cowrie shell on a table somewhere--this is what they look
like inhabited by the live animal.
The name nudibranch comes from a compound Latin description that translates as
"naked gill" and almost all of them have exposed, feathery gills. They are usually 1-3
inches long, very colorful and the color acts as a warning signal. They can eat toxic
stinging hydroids, the toxins build up in them and act as an effective deterrent
against being eaten. There are tens of thousands of different nudibranchs in all the
waters of the world and more being found.
CLICK ON THUMBNAIL FOR FULL SIZE IMAGE THEN "PLAY" TO ACTIVATE
SLIDESHOW, OR CLICK "NEXT" FOR PICTURE BY PICTURE ACTIVATION.