Hello, my little explorers! Today, we’re going to meet some of the sea’s most colourful and curious little creatures, the nudibranchs! You might hear people call them sea slugs, but trust me, these underwater wonders are more fabulous than any land slug you’ve ever seen.

No Shell, No Problem!

First, it’s important to know that not all sea slugs are nudibranchs. The same as all poodles are dogs, not all dogs are poodles.

These dazzling creatures come in every colour you can imagine: neon pink, electric blue, golden yellow, even polka dots and stripes! You can find them all over the world, from sunny tide pools near the beach to the darkest, deepest parts of the ocean. They are like jellybeans and the ocean's living works of art!

Nudibranchs are special because they don't have shells. They're naked, which is why they're called "nudibranchs" (it means "naked gill" in Latin). That's because their soft gills, which they use to breathe, are right out in the open on their backs, not tucked away in a shell! Interestingly, those beautiful colours and patterns aren’t just for show, they help them hide from predators or attract mates.

Nudibranchs aren’t just pretty; they’re fin-tastically clever, too. Check out some of their amazing talents:

Wear What You Eat: Some nudibranchs absorb the colours or powers of what they eat, like turning bright purple after munching on a purple sponge!

Masters of Disguise: Some look just like leaves or flowers to hide from predators.

Regrow & Go: If danger comes, they can drop parts of their body (like their rhinophores, those squiggly feelers on their head) and grow them back later!

Two in One: They’re super special, each one has the body parts to be both a mum and a dad! That means any two can team up!

Zap Power: Some can even steal the stinging cells from jellyfish and sea anemones and use them for their own defence. Zap!

Scent Trails: They leave special slime trails that send messages, like “Hey, I’m here!” or “Danger ahead!”

Sounds from the Sea: Some scientists believe they might even make tiny clicking sounds underwater, but we’re still learning about that!!

Look at the pictures above, aren’t they incredible?

Here are some tasks for you. 

🔎 Draw Your Own Nudibranch: Use your imagination to draw a colourful and crazy-looking nudibranch. You can give it any shape, colour, and pattern you like.
🔎 Nudibranch Hunt: Look for pictures of different nudibranchs online or in books. Can you find one that looks like a leaf or a flower? Let’s see who can find the most!
🔎 Nudibranch Craft: Use coloured paper, markers and glue to create your own nudibranch. Cut out shapes and glue them together to make a colourful and creative creature.
🔎 Ask your teacher if you can make a nudibranch mural for your classroom!

Wasn’t that wild and wonderful? Nudibranchs may be small, but they’re full of BIG surprises! 

See you on our next ocean adventure!
Sophia the Seahorse