Opalescent Nudibranch

Physical Description

The Opalescent Nudibranch, ranging from 30 to 80 mm in length, boasts an elongate body adorned with dorsal clusters of fingerlike cerata. These cerata exhibit variations in color, ranging from pale orange to dark orange, often featuring white tips and a dark brown core. Notably, they lack longitudinal white lines. The dorsum of the body appears translucent blue, adorned with mid-dorsal orange streaks surrounded by blue stripes.

Habitat and Geographical Range

This species of nudibranch is commonly found along the eastern Pacific coast. It thrives in diverse marine habitats, including rocky substrates and kelp forests.

What They Eat and How They Breed

Opalescent Nudibranchs likely feed on small invertebrates and algae. Their reproduction process involves mating behavior, where individuals exchange sperm. After mating, females lay eggs, often deposited in gelatinous masses on suitable substrates. Upon hatching, the larvae undergo a pelagic stage before settling on the ocean floor.