Flamenco Dancing in Tide Pools

This beautiful red-margin spanish dancer nudibranch (Hexabranchus pulchellus) put on a show in this shallow tide pool. Named after a flamenco dancer's skirt, these 'nudies' whirl and undulate as they swim through the water. This spanish dancer swam near the surface sometimes touching its own reflection.

   Even though this nudibranch looks like it might be very toxic with its bright coloration it only has slight toxin in its tissues. They are able to absorb some of the toxin from sponges that it eats. It certainly does not rely on camouflage to remain hidden from site. Instead spanish dancer nudibranchs are nocturnal, coming out at night when visibility is low. The egg masses of a spanish dancer look like velvet roses attached to rocks around the reef. The egg mass is protected from predation since the adult passes on the toxins to the mass.

  While most nudibranchs are very small, this one can someday grow to an amazing 15 inches! Our tidepool find happened to be a three inch juvenile, using the safety of the tidepools as a nursery until it is ready to live out in the open reef.