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Giant Nudibranch (Dentdronotus iris) BC_065JC

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The Giant Nudibranch (Dentdronotus Giganteus), also called the "swimming Nudibranch", is one of the largest in its class of marine animals. This one was at least 10" long, nearing the maximum recorded. The frills along the back are paired gills. If disturbed they can escape by swimming, though it's more of an undulation not far off the seabed bottom. Their colors are variable. The giant nudibranch "smells" and then feeds on the tentacles of the tube-dwelling anemone (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus), but usually doesn't kill the anemone and the anemone can regenerate. It also feeds on other animals in the sand. The frills along the back are paired gills. It is a gastropod in the phylum Mollusca, along with other soft bodied animals like octopus, and similar animals such as conchs which are also gastropods but have external shells.

Filename
BC UW©JMacCausland'09 065JC_Giant Nudibranch (Dentdronotus iris).tif
Copyright
Janet MacCausland
Image Size
3164x2141 / 19.4MB
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Mollusks: Snails, Limpets, & Bivalves, etc., British Columbia Coast
The Giant Nudibranch (Dentdronotus Giganteus), also called the "swimming Nudibranch", is one of the largest in its class of marine animals. This one was at least 10" long, nearing the maximum recorded. The frills along the back are paired gills. If disturbed they can escape by swimming, though it's more of an undulation not far off the seabed bottom. Their colors are variable. The giant nudibranch "smells" and then feeds on the tentacles of the tube-dwelling anemone (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus), but usually doesn't kill the anemone and the anemone can regenerate. It also feeds on other animals in the sand. The frills along the back are paired gills. It is a gastropod in the phylum Mollusca, along with other soft bodied animals like octopus, and similar animals such as conchs which are also gastropods but have external shells.
Home Decor & Stock Photography; Nature; On Location Portraiture; Illustration.
To Purchase, please contact Janet MacCausland at jmmermaid@outlook.com or call 508 824 1569 or TEXT 617 448 2746. All images are the property of the photographer and require permission to copy.