elianafe's Identifications

Feeding on Eunicella verrucosa.

Nudibranchs are a group of sea slugs characterized by having no shell, thus having their gills exposed. The name in latin, nudibranchia, means precisely that: nudi (nude, exposed) + branchia (gills).
Instead of the protective shell, the nudibranchs use other intricate defense mechanisms and that's one of the reasons they are such an interesting group to study. Not to mention their exquisite appearance.

More info about this species:

www.seaslugforum.net/tritnils.htm
hypselodoris.blogspot.com/2008/07/tritonia-nilsodhneri-ma...

Feeding on Eunicella verrucosa.

Nudibranchs are a group of sea slugs characterized by having no shell, thus having their gills exposed. The name in latin, nudibranchia, means precisely that: nudi (nude, exposed) + branchia (gills).
Instead of the protective shell, the nudibranchs use other intricate defense mechanisms and that's one of the reasons they are such an interesting group to study. Not to mention their exquisite appearance.

More info about this species:

www.seaslugforum.net/tritnils.htm
hypselodoris.blogspot.com/2008/07/tritonia-nilsodhneri-ma...

While driving off for a week end in the desert, we stopped for lunch under an acacia tree next to the road.

After a while, we noticed this tiny kid crawling under our Defender - perfect camouflage. Unsure about the fate of this ant...

Thanks to Eliana Ferretti @elianafe for spotting it!

Time ca. 1.30 pm, T about 30°C

First of all, let me say this observation is the successful outcome of joint work with our friends at Sahara Sailing (they have a catamaran sailing the Dakhla Bay: http://www.saharasailing.com/ sorry for the plug!). They are not on iNat but spotted the orcas from the boat and could take pics, while we were too far for that.

As for us, we were walking along the shore at the White Dune, around 7.45 pm. A very high tide was slowly going away and the tidal flat was still covered with water pools. We heard splash noises coming from the sea (about 1km away from us) and saw water thrown up into the air in various points of the lagoon. Initially, we thought it was cormorants diving to catch fish (there were a few flying around the spots) but splashes were definitely too high and big. And we could see conspicuous black shapes popping out of the water. Clearly, it was cetaceans spouting to breath. Orcas are known to visit the Bay of Dakhla but usually in February and March. The black shapes seemed too big to be dolphins but... could those REALLY be three-four orcas? We (including @elianafe ) left the beach wondering and debating.

Then... we got a text by Sahara Sailing telling us they just spotted orcas! As we could see their boat behind the spouts we only had to connect the dots...

Feeding on Eunicella verrucosa.

Nudibranchs are a group of sea slugs characterized by having no shell, thus having their gills exposed. The name in latin, nudibranchia, means precisely that: nudi (nude, exposed) + branchia (gills).
Instead of the protective shell, the nudibranchs use other intricate defense mechanisms and that's one of the reasons they are such an interesting group to study. Not to mention their exquisite appearance.

More info about this species:

www.seaslugforum.net/tritnils.htm
hypselodoris.blogspot.com/2008/07/tritonia-nilsodhneri-ma...