Harlequin Blue Sea Goddess

IUCN Conservation Status: DATA DEFICIENT

This harlequin blue sea goddess is only about an inch long

This ornate creature is a type of nudibranch called a Harlequin Blue Sea Goddess. The photo was taken at Blue Heron Bridge near West Palm Beach, Florida. This small marine sea slug is only about an inch long! These are not a common find for divers, in fact I’ve only seen this species a couple times. These nudibranchs are said to be found hiding in rubble piles and under coral slabs. As a diver, we are not going to dig up the reefs looking for these, so you really only have a chance to see these when they decide to come out. The good news, if you are looking for them, it will be hard to miss them if they are out. They look like a lava lamp!

Purple Spotted Sea Goddess

For those who don’t know what they are looking at, let's unpackage this creature. The head is on the right. On the head, you will see two purple trimmed rhinophores. Rhinophores are specialized organs that the nudibranch uses to detect certain dissolved chemicals in the surrounding sea water. There are a dozen or more different types of rhinophores that scientists use to identify these creatures. The “body” of the nudibranch is called the mantle. This red and yellow canvas is covered with purple (and often blue) spots. On the left side of the nudibranch, you will see a white and purple feathery plume. This organ is called the anal gills. They are used in gas exchange, and are how nudibranchs “breathe”. Under the nudibranch is the foot, which runs the length of the body.

Did you know? Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites. They have male and female gonads, however they cannot self-fertilize.

Smooth Tooth Aeolis

Did you know? Nudibranchs lay millions of eggs at a time!

Rhinophores are specialized organs that the nudibranch uses to detect certain dissolved chemicals

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