Kelpscape

Infant Navanax Grazing on Bryozoans

Navanax are fierce predators of other nudibranchs. However, this youngster appears to be grazing on bryozoans on a kelp frond.

Aeolidia papilosa with Unfurled Hood

We spotted a Aeolidia papilosa at Reguio this weekend, with hood extended.  I assume that there's a hapless but tasty anemone underneath that this one is delightedly sucking in.  This was smaller than the individual we spotted last week.

The water at Refugio was 47F by my gauge, 43F by my buddy's.  We had strong winds all last week and some deeper water mixed with the shallow.  It must be really cold deeper down.  This is as cold as I've ever experienced at Refugio -- and in June! 

 

Here it is again, showing a neighboring sand dab watching with a disgusted expression.

Opalescent Nudibranch

Apparently, opalescence is a specific property of some semi-transparent materials. Light appears bluish when reflected at an angle from inside these materials, but reddish-yellow after passing through the material. Opals are an example.  This opalescent nudibranch was on the wall near Rat Rock.  Actually to me it looks like this nudibranch is lit up like a neon tube from the inside.

Scrubbrush Nudibranch

 
This nudibranch looked like a scrubbrush, lying on a field of sea apples south of the big ledge at Refgugio.  According to Pacific Coast Nudibranchs, it dines on anemones -- of which there were few nearby!  It was making rapid progress toward the big ledge and its extensive corynactis ranches.