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Slugs

Photography, Artwork, and Writing by:
Christopher Chock, Parker Johnson, Reid Woodward, and Bradley Bonilla


 

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

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

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

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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