| Slugs
Photography, Artwork, and Writing
by:
Christopher Chock, Parker Johnson, Reid Woodward, and Bradley Bonilla
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Moving like a car with flat
tires going through a stream, the purple nudibranch has a close
resemblance to its prey, eating sponges that are the same colors
as itself. Its eggs look like the sponges as well – resembling
the sponges' color. The nudibranch keeps the sponges' population
in check, allowing other animals to live here. The sponges would
choke out the other animals if they were allowed to overpopulate.
-Christopher Chock |
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The Spanish dancer, like a blob
of colors on a rock, pushes itself to wherever it needs to go.
Not many organisms eat this intertidal nudibranch because they
know that although its colors are tempting it is poisonous.
This marine dancer spends its day eating sponges and keeping
the food chain balanced.
-Parker Johnson |
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Flying in the clear water the
Spanish dancer is not just a beautiful sight but also one of
the most fascinating species. The decoration on it is like warriors
with war paint preparing for a great battle. When offended the
Spanish dancer flares its wings and dances in a movement to
scare off predators. The wings make it look like a macho weight
lifter. The wings help keep it alive and also help it swim away
faster and scare predators. The beauty of this organism is like
the smell of a freshly picked ginger in the sight of the morning
light.
-Reid Woodward
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Its outer gills inhale reluctantly
like a peer pressured smoker taking its first puff. When disrupted
in its natural state the Spanish dancer flares its wings and
tangos to the rhythm and beats of the pounding ocean. The Spanish
dancer enlarges its appearance through its majestic dance to
ward off intruders. Untouched by society this nudibranch slowly
commutes like a broken cabinet under the kitchen oven.
-Bradley Bonilla |
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