Nudibranch by David Doubilet
Photograph by David Doubilet / Source Netional Geographic

No, they are not jelly candies... they are Nudibranchs, probably the most colorful creatures in this world.
These amazing sea animals are members of one suborder of soft-bodied, shell-less marine mollusks, which are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms. Scientists have discovered more than 3000 species of these little moving rainbows but probably other thousands still have to be discovered.
They vary in adult size from 2 to 60 cm and thay are carnivorous and sometimes cannibals of their own species.
Their wonderful colours are due to the loss of the shell as a protection. Some of them developed colours to achieve a perfect camouflage with their habitat, others on the contrary developed garish flamboyant colours to warn their predators about their toxicity.

I've chosen some pictures from three wonderful galleries.
These first pictures are by David Doubilet. Removing the background he managed to drive the attention even more on the wonderful colours and shapes of the nudibranchs.
See all the pictures on NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Nudibranch by David Doubilet
Photograph by David Doubilet / Source Netional Geographic
Nudibranch by David Doubilet
Photograph by David Doubilet / Source Netional Geographic
Nudibranch by David Doubilet
Photograph by David Doubilet / Source Netional Geographic
Nudibranch by David Doubilet
Photograph by David Doubilet / Source Netional Geographic
Nudibranch by David Doubilet
Photograph by David Doubilet / Source Netional Geographic
Nudibranch by David Doubilet
Photograph by David Doubilet / Source Netional Geographic

The following pictures are by Raymond. Check here the whole gallery

Nudibranch
Photograph by Raymond
Nudibranch
Photograph by Raymond
Nudibranch
Photograph by Raymond
Nudibranch
Photograph by Raymond
Nudibranch
Photograph by Raymond
Nudibranch
Photograph by Raymond
Nudibranch
Photograph by Raymond

Finally these pictures are taken from this gallery by Wild Singapore

Nudibranch
Photograph by Wild Singapore
Nudibranch
Photograph by Wild Singapore
Nudibranch
Photograph by Wild Singapore
Nudibranch
Photograph by Wild Singapore
Nudibranch
Photograph by Wild Singapore
Nudibranch by David Doubilet
Photograph by Wild Singapore
Nudibranch
Photograph by Wild Singapore

Comments

7 Response to 'The colourful underwater world of Nudibranchs'

  1. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/colourful-underwater-world-of.html?showComment=1218779880000#c7667713376009671947'> August 15, 2008 7:58 AM

    Amazing!
    Never heard about, thanks for posting
    cheers
    Luka

     

  2. Blog Queen
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/colourful-underwater-world-of.html?showComment=1218815460000#c7749162376560109496'> August 15, 2008 5:51 PM

    Nature is beautiful!

     

  3. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/colourful-underwater-world-of.html?showComment=1228219620000#c6754393755672970901'> December 2, 2008 1:07 PM

    wow! aren't they jelly candies?

     

  4. Anonymous
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/colourful-underwater-world-of.html?showComment=1233178380000#c8318048508206966131'> January 28, 2009 10:33 PM

    So, Pokemon are real...

     

  5. Kristin
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/colourful-underwater-world-of.html?showComment=1240888500000#c87548879070150773'> April 28, 2009 5:15 AM

    Those are really neat! I can't pick a favorite!

     

  6. emergency plumbing in liverpool
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/colourful-underwater-world-of.html?showComment=1254817747161#c4457619666840483396'> October 6, 2009 10:29 AM

    After seeing those pictures, I agree that Nudibranchs are probably the most colorful creatures in the world. It was surprising to learn that they are carniverous and that more than 3000 species of Nudibranchs have been discovered. But I think that they are beautiful creatures. The Nudibranchs looked great in the pictures.

     

  7. The Butler Family
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/colourful-underwater-world-of.html?showComment=1261423621952#c1305083815696694212'> December 21, 2009 8:27 PM

    Beautiful! Thanks for sharing...