Due to their usually extremely specific diets and their delicateness nudibranchs unfortunately do not play a big role in reef aquaria. Which is quite unfortunate considering their vivid colors and intricate beauty. These stunning pictures by David Doubilet highlight some of the most stunning and amazing specimens we have come across. The extreme detailed color patterns and antler like appendages of the Bornella anguilla, the specimen pictured above, for example, managed to capture us in a sense of awe. The Hypselodoris sp., pictured below, managed to arouse an angel-like perception. The Flabellina exoptata, pictured below, manged to arouse a perception of elegance.
The perceived cartoonish faces of many of these nudibranches have furthermore left us amazed, especially considering that nudibranchs lack “eyes” instead relying on their appendages for sensing. At a first glance the two spots on the front of the Bornella anguilla for instance, had even us thinking they were eyes. The two spots on the Blue and Yellow Chromodoris sp., pictured below, had the same effect. Further letting your imagination run wild the Nembrotha kubaryana and Thecacera pacifica, both pictured below, appear to have mustaches and the Godiva sp., pictured below, appears to have a pretty wild hair cut. But don’t let us interpret the pictures for you, check them out yourself below.
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[David Doubilet via National Geographic]
