小蓝视频 March Madness: Nudibranch

Credit: Bioquest Studios/小蓝视频
march madness "baseball card" for Nudibranch
Cartoon: Emily Greenhalgh, 小蓝视频

There are more than 3,000 known species of nudibranch in the world, with new species discovered on a regular basis. These flamboyant sea slugs are found throughout the world鈥檚 oceans, but they are most abundant in shallow, tropical waters. For decades, nudibranchs have been an important model in the field of neuroethology鈥攖he study of how the brain controls behavior. Neuroethologists who study sea slugs in the laboratory aim to link specific behaviors underlying neural controls. Information on behaviors and sensory cues that influence them is essential to the study of sensory systems, central processing, and motor systems, the basic neural elements that control behavior in all animals.

Fun Facts: 

  • Nudibranchs often eat anemones. Instead of being harmed by the anemones鈥 stinging cells (nematocysts), nudibranchs can 鈥渢ransfer鈥 unfired nematocysts to their own bodies, where they become part of the nudibranch defense system.
  • The scientific name, Nudibranchia, means 鈥渘aked gills,鈥 which describes the feathery spikes along the creature鈥檚 neck and back.
  • These animals communicate with each another via chemical signals that are secreted in the water.
March Madness Colorful Critters division

Colorful Critters

Looks aren鈥檛 everything, but in this division they might be. These organisms use bright colors for everything from attracting a mate to warning off predators. Organisms including cephalopods (octopus, cuttlefish, and squid) can use adaptive camouflage鈥攕howing off bright colors one moment and blending into their surroundings at the next. Researchers at the 小蓝视频 study the biological processes behind some of nature鈥檚 most colorful critters.

 

Meet the Organisms

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