Hermissenda Madness - can they be stopped?

scottfiji · Jun 8, 2005

I stumbled upon 50 or more Hermissenda crassicornis nudibranchs today, eating hydroids, laying eggs, and causing mischief. There may be millions by tomorrow. When I got too close they shot their ingested nematocysts at me, luckily I was wearing chain mail. If they attack you, bend them in half and gulp them down like the mosshead warbonnet does.

Here is the evidence:
http://forums.scubapost.net/showthread.php?t=707

More information on this interesting creature:

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:jfdH_yb7jX8J:www.stilesword.com/mls_sluggo.pdf+hermissenda+&hl=en

more pics from the dive:
http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/Malibu20050608 (hermissendras)
http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/Malibu20050607 (swell sharks)

Scott

drbill · Jun 9, 2005

I'm hearing reports of LOTS of nudies all over southern California. I haven't seen any in the dive park, but I've been sidelined most of the last four weeks and have only done four dives there (all last weekend when the current was blazing).

Although they have their defense mechanisms, I'm wondering if the high density of predatory fish (including sheephead, rock wrasse, etc.) keep their numbers down in the park.

scottfiji · Jun 10, 2005

drbill:
I'm hearing reports of LOTS of nudies all over southern California. I haven't seen any in the dive park, but I've been sidelined most of the last four weeks and have only done four dives there (all last weekend when the current was blazing).

Although they have their defense mechanisms, I'm wondering if the high density of predatory fish (including sheephead, rock wrasse, etc.) keep their numbers down in the park.

Lots of predatory fish around these guys, and their numbers were up. Not too many fish eat hermissenda though. A lot of nudis seem to thrive in high-current areas for some reason though, that could be related too.

Perhaps some of the divers in the park are eating them???

ScubaSeanMaui · Jun 10, 2005

A few weeks ago I must have seen over 30 Hermissendas at the La Jolla Cove.

scottfiji · Jun 10, 2005

divebuddysean:
A few weeks ago I must have seen over 30 Hermissendas at the La Jolla Cove.

Sure you did Sean, sure you did!

PhotoTJ · Jun 12, 2005

I saw several every dive on the two day I was on this weekend. They seem to be everywhere.

H2Andy · Jun 12, 2005

scott, awesome pics and post

that video of the big slug vacuuming the nudibrach right up is creepy

scottfiji · Jun 13, 2005

H2Andy:
scott, awesome pics and post

that video of the big slug vacuuming the nudibrach right up is creepy

thanks alot Andy

yeah, that video was awesome, when I had my marine bio class, I had caught a navanax and kept it in the school aquarium, I fed it a nudibranch and saw a similar sight.

for anyone who didn't see the video page, here it is:

http://www.life.uiuc.edu/slugcity/movies.html

scott

Hermissenda Madness - can they be stopped?

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