Saturday, March 21, 2009

Photohunter: Yellow




This is a black dorid (Polycera atra) that I caught feeding on some bryozoans I collected for my thesis. I have caught at least four different species of nudibranch (sea slugs) as I am collecting their main food source, but I think this one is my favorite for its coloration. These nudibranchs tend to e a little toxic, as they concentrate the toxins from their food source in their tissues, so the beautiful patterns are used to warn off would-be predators. Some nudibranchs take a different route, and use their coloration to blend in with their food source so well, it is hard to see them even when you look very closely.

6 comments:

healingmagichands said...

I love nudibranchs! This one is beautiful. Shame on it for eating your homework!

Rebecca Mecomber said...

Wowee, that's WEIRD! lol!

I did yellow today, too! I hope you can come visit.

http://ilovenewyorktravel.net/photo-hunters-yellow/

Have a great weekend!

Flo said...

Very cool!!! I commend you for getting your masters in Marine Bio!! I got my BS and said enough already :)

Mine is up over at Flo's Place.

Leslie said...

That is so cute! :)

Anonymous said...

Cool!

Our chiropractor's office has a large aquarium and we always follow the goings on of the fish in it. Friday morning, I was looking over and noticed something small flitting about. On closer inspection it appeared that there were at least two baby fish in the tank. Apparently, there were at least 5 but it appears that they are down to two... We are all hoping that the two manage to avoid the other grown-up fish until they are too big to eat.

It is the first time I have seen baby tropical fish "on the hoof" so to speak.

Claudia said...

Fascinating...but YOU can keep it!