Yet another nudibranch query

[abernat]

Hi,

Can someone explain to me what's going on here (taken in Raja Ampat)? Not the big guy, the little guy at the bottom.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[Kupu]

It appears the smaller nudibranch (Gymnodoris rubropapulosa) was looking for a meal and followed the slime trail of the larger (Chromodoris annae). Since nudibranchs lack the sense of sight, or rather possess only rudimentary light receptors, the Gymnodoris was unable to determine the size of its prey until it made contact. In this case, it will find the meal too large and have to abandon it and move on. If the meal was a more reasonable size it would swallow it whole. Nice find!

Info taken from Coleman's Nudibranchs Encyclopedia and Behren's Nudibranch Behavior.

 

[abernat]

Thanks!