Fun Facts

• The name Hexabranchus sanguineus literally translates to blood-colored six gills.
  • Hexa- six
  • branchus- gills
  • sanguineus- blood
    

• The Hexabranchus sanguineus common name is Spanish Dancer. It gets its name because its swimming movement resembles a flamenco dancer.

• Out of 3,000 nudibranch species, the Spanish dancer is the only nudibranch that can swim.

• The Spanish dancer is known as a dorid nudibranch. This means that they breathe through gills that are on their posterior end. The other type of nudibranchs are eolid. They have finger-like appendages (cerata) that serve multiple functions, including breathing, digestion and defense.

• The Hexabranchus sanguineus is the largest nudibranch, measuring around 40cm in length.

• Scuba divers and snorkelers say that nudibranchs are one of the most admirable species they see when swimming.

• Even though most Spanish dancers are red in color, a yellow version of this species has been spotted, but it is considered rare.

• To attract a mate, the males have a "dancing competition". The winner gets the girl. 

• Some nudibranchs are able to store algae in their tissue. This allows them to feed on sugars, the algae make from photosynthesis.

• Nudibranchs are brightly colored to tell predators that they taste bad.

• If you would like to learn more about the nudibranch species as a whole visit this website. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/nudibranch/ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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