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Denison's
nudibranch
Dendrodoris denisoni
Family Dendrodorididae
updated
Oct 08
Where
seen? This delightfully bobbled nudibranch with electric
blue spots is sometimes seen among seagrasses and seaweeds on our
Northern shores, as well as at Cyrene Reef. Often seen in numbers,
and then not seen again for some time.
Features: 6-10cm long. Broad,
soft body with lots of bumps and pimples, and distinctive electric
blue spots. Thick club-like rhinophores and large feathery gills.
The animal is generally beige sometimes with a purplish or pinkish
tinge. Some members of this family can cause irritation to eyes and
a burning sensation to the skin.
What does it eat? It eats sponges,
possibly sponges that
live in murky, mucky sites. It lacks a radula and jaws so it can't
rasp or chew its food sponge. Instead, it secretes digestive juices
onto the sponge and then sucks up the softened sponge. How is it the
juices don't leak away into the surrounding water? Dr Bill Rudman
explains on
his website about how structures around the mouth might help it
form a seal around the feeding site.
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Pulau Sekudu, May 05
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Denison's
nudibranchs on Singapore shores

Beting Bronok, Jul 07
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Underside.
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Pulau Sekudu, Jan 06
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Pulau Sekudu, Apr 06
Mating
and laying eggs.
Photos
shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his
blog.
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Pulau Semakau, Nov 07
Photo
shared by Toh Chay Hoon on her
flickr.
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Chek Jawa, Jun 09
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more photos of denisoni's
nudibranchs on Singapore shores
northern shores part 1 | part
2
southern shores
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