Tidepool Magic in Maui

While showing Jack and Moira our secret tidepooling spot we came across some real gems. The secret is to wait for the lowest tide of the day to occur shortly after nightfall. This gives the hidden creatures a chance to emerge. We were greeted with a hunting baby eel in our first pool, a bloom of tiny sea hares, and a couple of dynamite nudibranch finds. There were quite a few bright orange gumdrop nudibranchs, a very rare marionas hawaiiensis, and one beautiful nudi that I had never seen here before. 

I had to send in this video clip of the nudi to our local expert, and even she said she cannot say 100%, however she thinks it is this species: http://seaslugsofhawaii.com/species/Polybranchia-samanthae-a.html , which has lost its cholorplast. 

Who would have known a couple of shallow tidepools in the lava rocks could contain such treasures. 
 

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