Today we"re meeting one of a motley group of sea slugs called the nudibranchs (rhymes with "thanks"), known for their unique, often complex shapes and neon-bright colors that help discourage predators. The Spanish shawl"s fire-orange mane is made up of tendrils called cerata that mainly act as gills. But that mane also retains venom from the slug"s prey—sea anemones—treating any would-be devourers to a painful sting. Should a ravenous sea star disregard these defenses and get too close for comfort, the Spanish shawl has a Plan B: By flapping its whole 2- to 3-inch body like a gelatinous wing, the nudibranch can flutter into open water for a quick escape.
The stylish Spanish shawl
Today in History
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Maldives
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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Don’t look down
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Wind Cave National Park celebrates 120 years
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Wildebeests in Maasai Mara, Kenya
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World Meteorological Day
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Santorini through the clouds
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Summer solstice
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National Park Week begins
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Lunar eclipse
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The borrowed days are here
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Santorini, Greece
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We heart Berlin
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Lighting the way to new beginnings
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A monster view in Scotland
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Spring comes to Glacier National Park
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Remembering the Velvet Revolution
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Harvest season begins
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Kangaroo family for National Hugging Day
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The power of the forest
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Over and under the delta
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Let the games begin
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There once was a lighthouse from...
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Mod gear
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Night of the ‘Cold Moon’
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Polar Bear Week
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Signs of life in the Empty Quarter
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Oh, the places you’ll go
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The last thing seen by Wile E. Coyote