Flabellina Dushia Nudibranch – Blue Heron Bridge

This underwater macro image shows a Flabellina Dushina nudibranch crawling across the coral at the Blue heron bridge in Florida. The ghostly white body color is offset by the red with white tipped cerata. These serve two main functions: Respiration: The cerata act as the animal’s exposed (naked) gills, allowing it to breathe underwater. Defense: They also contain stinging cells, which the nudibranch steals from the hydroids and anemones it eats. When threatened, the nudibranch can use these cells as a defense mechanism against predators.