Have you ever seen a Nudibranch?

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Can you spot two barnacle nudibranchs in this pic? One is laying ribbon egg sacs and one is having a barnacle snack....”

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• KAYAK KIDS - INTRODUCTION TO SEA KAYAKING July 6-9; July 20-23; Aug 10-13 Sessions Monday - Thursday 9am - 1pm • YOUTH TOUR N’ LEARN - GULF ISLANDS - 3 DAY OVERNIGHT TRIP July 13-15; Aug 17-19 AGES 13-16 • YOUTH DAY TRIP ADVENTURES - Paddling in the Maple Bay area July 10, July 24, Aug 14 Fridays 9am - 3pm

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Have you ever seen a Nudibranch?

Down by the Bay Where the eelgrass grows Back to my home, I dare not go For if I do My mother would say Have you ever seen a nudibranch laying its eggs? Down by the bay!

Slugs are commonly thought of as gross creatures that leave slimy trails and eat your vegetable gardens. Did you know that they’re actually really cool critters? And did you know that there are slugs that live in the ocean? Ocean dwelling slugs are called “Nudibranchs”, meaning “naked gills’’ because they have no shell. These slugs come in all the colors of the rainbow, as well as a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

In the Observation Tank at the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre, we are currently hosting a species of nudibranch called “barnacle nudibranch”. They are about 1-2 cm long, have a voracious appetite for barnacles and are masters of disguise.

During a low tide, head on down to a rocky and sandy beach with lots of barnacle covered rocks and see if you can find a soft, squishy, creamy colored oval shape creature with light and dark brown splotched pattern on it. You’ll have to look closely though, because these wee creatures are very difficult to spot at first, second and even third glance. If you’re really lucky, you might come across a beautiful creamy colored circular ribbon of freshly laid nudibranch eggs. Barnacle nudibranchs will be somewhere nearby.

Beach etiquette: Please be gentle with all creatures you find on the beach. The ocean is a hard place to live. If you turn a rock to look underneath, please turn it over and put it back exactly as you found it. The creatures that live under rocks need their homes to live!

Madeline Southern, Aquarist Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre