Nudibranch

Phylum:Mollusca Class: Gastropoda

Nudibranchia

Nudibranchs are members of the mollusc family; basically they’re snails without a shell.

Description

Nudibranchs are characterised by soft bodies with bright colours and striking patterns to deter predators. They are often called sea slugs. There are more than 3000 species of nudibranchs worldwide! Adults are from 2 to 60 centimetres in length. Nudibranchs have chemical sensors called rhinophores on their head which they use to smell and taste chemicals in the water to help them find food. Nudibranchs have (head) tentacles, which are receptive to handle, flavor, and smell. Club-shaped rhinophores sense odors.

Habitat

It live at all depths of salt water, but reach their greatest size and variation in warm, shallow waters.

Reproduction

It has a set of reproductive organs for both sexes, but they can infrequently fertilize themselves.It naturally drop their eggs inside a jellylike spira

Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites with a set of male and female reproductive organs.

Diet

Most nudibranchs are carnivores, feeding on sponges, hydroids, bryozoans, other sea slug species, or, occasionally they are cannibalistic and prey on members of their own species. Other groups feed on tunicates, barnacles, or anemones.