The Spanish Shawl Nudibranch - Flabellina iodinea

One of the most striking of all the nudibranchs of Pacific Coastal waters is the Spanish Shawl nudibranch, Flabellina iodinea. The iodinea name refers to the striking color. These animals feed on brilliantly orange hydroid colony (Garveia annulata) so the coloration may be something of a camoflage when they are feeding. At other times, when they are crawling exposed on rocks, the colors may act to warn potential predators. It turns out that Flabellina digests the Garviea tissue, but not its stinging cells. These are lodged in the cerata of the nudibranch where they act as an effective defense. Being warned not to eat this delicate morsel may be a good thing for the potential fish predator, and for the prey.

For a concise and revealing teaching video about nudibranchs in the Phylum Mollusca, get our video: Branches on the Tree of Life: Molluscs. The ecology and diversity of seashores is covered by our program, The Biology of Seashores.