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Opalescent Sea Slug Nudibranch

Opalescent Nudibranch line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Opalescent Nudibranch illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Opalescent Nudibranch was completed on 8.24.2011. In the summer of 2011 I traveled to the Channel Islands, which are off the coast of near Santa Barbara, California. These islands are also called the "Galapagos of North America. During the dives, I occasionally encountered these colorful little animals tucked in and among the rocky reefs in the kelp forests. They really stand out because of their vibrant colors and they make for excellent subjects for illustration. The drawing is based on a photo by Ron Wolf.

Information about the Opalescent Nudibranch:

The Opalescent Nudibranch is a species or marine gastropod of the family Hermissenda. They are found in the kelp forests, estuaries and tidal pools in the intertidal zone of the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are smaller than other sea slugs, growing only to about 2 inches long (50 mm) These mollusks feed on hydroids (which are life stage for many animals of class Hydrozoa - small predators related to jellyfish) sea anemones and even other sea slugs. The Opalescent Sea Slug is one of the most abundant species of nudibranch in the areas off the coast of California.