Merry
Contributor
As Phil said, this weekend, we hit the tiny nudi jackpot. So often we've carefully searched kelp blades for photo subjects and come up empty. But once again, this magical mecca we call Golf Ball Reef has provided us a bounty of 2 uncommon nudibranchs, and 1 possibly unknown.
If you see extremely small white commas on kelp, you're probably in for a treat.
Why get so worked up about tiny slugs? Firstly, it's an opportunity to see a different species fulfilling its important role in the ecosystem. Secondly, some nudi species may disappear for years at a time, then reappear in a population explosion. This has previously been the case with Eubranchus rustyus below. It's wonderfully cryptic, blending in with its food sources, the common hydroids, Obelia and Plumularia.
E. rustyus can reach 25 mm, but these were no more than 2 mm.
Eight or nine "rusties" can be seen in this field. There are probably more.
Eggs gracefully decorate a hydroid stalk.
Phil found this even smaller little beauty, Doto amyra cohabiting with Eubranchus. It's nearly beyond the limit of the lens I was using.
Can you make out all three Dotos? Start from left to right.
Cluster of Dotos laying eggs, with a Eubranchus on the left.
If you see extremely small white commas on kelp, you're probably in for a treat.
Why get so worked up about tiny slugs? Firstly, it's an opportunity to see a different species fulfilling its important role in the ecosystem. Secondly, some nudi species may disappear for years at a time, then reappear in a population explosion. This has previously been the case with Eubranchus rustyus below. It's wonderfully cryptic, blending in with its food sources, the common hydroids, Obelia and Plumularia.
E. rustyus can reach 25 mm, but these were no more than 2 mm.
Eight or nine "rusties" can be seen in this field. There are probably more.
Eggs gracefully decorate a hydroid stalk.
Phil found this even smaller little beauty, Doto amyra cohabiting with Eubranchus. It's nearly beyond the limit of the lens I was using.
Can you make out all three Dotos? Start from left to right.
Cluster of Dotos laying eggs, with a Eubranchus on the left.
