Head to head
Hooded Nudibranch vs Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
The hooded nudibranch and the Spanish shawl nudibranch both live along the Pacific coast of North America, but each has evolved a strikingly different solution to feeding and defence, one with a net-like hood, the other with stolen stinging cells.
| Hooded Nudibranch | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Melibe leonina | Flabellina iodinea |
| Feeding method | A net-like hood instead of a radula | Scrapes prey, then steals its stinging cells |
| Diet | Small crustaceans and zooplankton | Hydroids |
| Defence | No chemical defence | Stores stolen stinging cells from prey |
| Movement | Can swim by flexing its body | Moves actively across rocks and kelp |
| Colouring | Pale, translucent green | Deep purple body with bright orange cerata |
| Notable trait | A fruity, watermelon-like scent | A vivid warning colour pattern |
| Habitat | Kelp forests and eelgrass beds | Rocky coastal waters and kelp forests |
Hooded Nudibranch vs Spanish Shawl Nudibranch: common questions
Which nudibranch has a distinctive smell, the hooded or the Spanish shawl?
The hooded nudibranch, which produces a scent often described as resembling watermelon or cantaloupe, a trait the Spanish shawl nudibranch does not share.
Which of these two nudibranchs steals weapons from its prey?
The Spanish shawl nudibranch, which feeds on hydroids and stores their undischarged stinging cells within its own body for its own defence, unlike the hooded nudibranch.
Can either of these nudibranchs swim?
The hooded nudibranch can swim short distances by flexing its body from side to side, while the Spanish shawl nudibranch moves actively across rocks and kelp but is not specifically known for swimming.