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Hexabranchus sanguineus
"This species of very large, strong-swimming nudibranch is one of the largest of all nudibranchs: specimens of well over 40 cm in length have been reported. The species name, sanguineus, refers to its bright red coloration, but a yellow variant also exists. This nudibranch has two very different modes of locomotion: crawling and swimming. When it crawls, the wide edges of the mantle (the parapodia) are rolled up close to the body. When the animal swims however, the red parapodia (mantle) unfurl, and are whirled through the water in a spectacular undulating motion, propelling the animal forwards. The animal was given the common name "Spanish dancer" because the whirling swimming movement, and the red color of the mantle, are reminiscent of the skirt movements of a flamenco dancer." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_dan...
Found this rather large nudibranch at a depth of about 4.5 m. Length of about 38 cm. Picture 1 is of it swimming, showing of the red colored portion of its mantle. Dive and Trek Classroom, Batangas, Philippines
Spotted on Feb 3, 2013
Submitted on Mar 16, 2013
2 Comments
Yes it was anneastorga :-)
This was on a night dive?