The Colorful Sea Slug

In the Australian ocean there is a slug the size of a cup. This slug is called a Nudibranch. It is beautiful with bright colors and no bones, this creature is often considered one of the most beautiful animals in the world! There are over 3,000 species of Nudibranchs and they live in shallow waters where their food is. Nudibranchs eat coral, sponges, fish eggs. Their teeth are curved which helps them eat these round things. The toxins from their prey gives them their coloring. For example, if they eat something with purple toxins, they take on a purple color. Nudibranchs use the senses on their tentacles to feel where food is. These sea slugs can weigh up to 3.3 pounds and get up to a foot long! Check out this website: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/nudibranch/

I think they are fascinating because of their color. I also think their color is different and more unusual than other creatures. Animals usually have skin or fur that helps them blend in more. It's ok for them to be colorful because it is a warning for other creatures that they are poisonous.

Nudibranchs are similar and different then the invertebrates we studied in class. One thing they have in common is they all only live underwater. One difference is the Planaria, Daphnia, and Hydra all live in freshwater and the Nudibranch lives in saltwater. One more difference is the Nudibranch is much bigger than the other three we studied in class. (By: Julia L)