Nudibranch research

摘要

Among the species of gastropods, with their magnificently whorled shells, lie a group just as magnificent but naked, the nudibranchs. Nudibranchs are the shell-less relatives of marine snails; their name literally translates into "naked gill." Commonly referred to as "sea slugs," I prefer to describe them as "butterflies of the sea." Species can be found in every color of the rainbow throughout tropical, temperate, and even Arctic oceans. Some nudibranchs camouflage themselves to match their food source, while others advertise their toxins with brightly colored stripes and polka dots. Some even give off a pleasant aroma of cedar when handled!