Bubble Cells Divers

Andrey Ryanskiy · Issue 115, Jul/Aug 2020 · pp. 59–63

Products mentioned: Nikon D7200, 105mm macro lens, +10 wet lens, +16 wet lens

Nudibranchs or sea slugs are a favourite subject for underwater photographers. They amaze us with a variety of colors, shapes and shades. Usually underwater photographers begin with relatively large, brightly coloured species. These are chromodorids, which are easy to photograph on the surface of the sponges they feed on. It is much more demanding to shoot aeolid nudibranchs that feed on hydroids. But there is a group of sea slugs, that until recently remained outside the orbit of interests for underwater photographers. And there are two main reasons for this. They are not easy to find and even more difficult to photograph. Meet the Bubble Cell Divers – sea slugs with unique feeding strategy! All Sacoglossan sea slugs have an unusual feeding strategy. They puncture algal cells with their teeth and suck out the cell contents. But some Ercolania species are a very peculiar even among Sacog…