MBL March Madness: Nudibranch

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’s oceans, but they are most abundant in shallow, tropical waters. For decades, nudibranchs have been an important model in the field of neuroethology—the 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’ stinging cells (nematocysts), nudibranchs can “transfer” unfired nematocysts to their own bodies, where they become part of the nudibranch defense system.
• The scientific name, Nudibranchia, means “naked gills,” which describes the feathery spikes along the creature’s neck and back.
• These animals communicate with each another via chemical signals that are secreted in the water.