Tidepool Nudibranchs

Red Margin Nudibranch unfurling

It always amazes me what can be found in the little pools in the rocks that form when the tide goes out. These tidepools can be treasure troves of all sorts of rare and unusual sea creatures. I have seen juvenile octopus, moray eels, and cleaner shrimp at night in tidepools. But the real reason I am always checking for low tides shortly after sunset is to find nudibranchs! Heidi and I have seen nudibranchs in tidepools that we have never seen snorkeling or scuba diving. And to think, people walk right by these pools all the time, not realizing what might be lurking nearby.

Dendrodoris carunculosa

 This nights foray into some of our favorite tidepools was incredible. My nudibranch hunting partner Heidi and I didn't have really high hopes since the tide was not a very low tide, but all that changed when she shouted she found something. We first thought it was a tuberculos nudibranch (Dendrodoris tuberculosa) but when we identified it later using www.seaslugsofhawaii.com we found it was a (Dendrodoris carbunculosa). These species are very similar both having tubercles all over their body.

Heidi was on fire this night as she also spotted this juvenile red-margin spanish dancer nudibranch in one of the last tide pools we came to. We even got a shot of the nudibranch just as it unfurled and showed off where it gets the name red-margin from. Two great finds to fuel the never-ending search for more nudibranchs.