We also saw many invertebrates along the shoreline! Examples include this Acanthozoon flatworm:
We also saw this funeral nudibranch (Jorunna funebris). "Nudibranch" means "naked gills" as their gills (the flowery structures on their backs) are exposed, not in their body like most other marine animals.
We were lucky enough to spot a swallowtail headshield slug (Chelidonura pallida). The swallowtail headshield slug has a well-developed "headshield", which is used to plow beneath the sand surface and helps prevent the sand entering the mantle cavity. These slugs feed on tiny flatworms living on coral reef substrate.
No comments:
Post a Comment