Marine Life & Conservation
Nudibranchs: what do you know about them? (Watch Video)
The second in an exciting new series of blogs introducing some of the amazing marine life you can encounter at Magic Resorts in the Philippines…
Some interesting facts!
Who doesn’t love nudibranchs? These tiny little creatures catch everybody’s interest because of their cute appearance, bright colors and last but not least, there are thousands of different species!
Although the word “nudibranchs” sounds as cute as the creature itself, the word actually comes from both Latin and Greek: Nudus (naked in Latin) and bránkhia (gills in Greek). The reason? The gills on their back are completely uncovered! Some things are just so simple.
Nudibranchs are also called nudis or sea slugs. All the nudibranchs are sea slugs, but not all sea slugs are nudibranchs. Some can swim and some are even toxic (or pretend to be!) But don’t worry, they won’t have enough toxin to harm humans: it’s only to protect themselves from predators or those who pretend to be toxic.
Another funny fact about nudibranchs is that they are hermaphrodites, which means they are intersex: all nudibranch (“male” or “female”) can be pregnant and can lay a million eggs at one time!
Although there are thousands of different species, there are basically only two major types of them: Dorid & Aeolid nudibranchs.
Dorid nudibranchs breathe through the gills on their back, which look like a little tree of gills. Aeolid nudibranchs have cerata or finger-like strings on their back that function as breathing, digestion, and defense apparatus. They also have variations of shapes: rose-like, club-shaped, clustered, thread-like, and branched. Aeolid nudibranchs can use their cerata for defense and some kinds of nudis can excrete toxin or acid from their body if they are threatened.
Come and dive with Magic Oceans Dive Resort and let the guides show you their nudibranch paradise! On top, their in-house marine biologist can tell you much more about these creatures during the seminar (free of charge)!
Some general facts!
- There are more than 3000 species of nudibranchs worldwide and new ones are discovered almost daily. Which ones have you already seen
- Their size varies from less than 0.5 inch (Shaun the Sheep) to 35 inch (Spanish Dancer)!
- Nudis can be found in many places all over the world: coral reefs, seagrass beds or sandy bottoms. Did you know that you can also find some species in the Southern/Antarctic Ocean?
- Nudibranchs don’t live very long. Some die within a month, others survive for only a year.
Visit Magic Oceans Anda, Bohol and Magic Island Moalboal, Cebu… find out more at www.magicresorts.online.
6 years ago, The Ocean Cleanup set sail for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with one goal: to develop the technology to be able to relegate the patch to the history books. On 6 September 2024, The Ocean Cleanup fleet returns to San Francisco bringing with it System 03 to announce the next phase of the cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and to offer you a chance to view our cleanup system up-close and personal.
We look forward to seeing you there.
To confirm your presence, please RSVP to press@theoceancleanup.com
PROGRAM
Join The Ocean Cleanup as our two iconic ships and the extraction System 03 return to San Francisco, 6 years and over 100 extractions after we set sail, to create and validate the technology needed to rid the oceans of plastic.
Our founder and CEO, Boyan Slat, will announce the next steps for the cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Giving you a chance to view our cleanup system and the plastic extracted.
Hear important news on what’s next in the mission of The Ocean Cleanup as it seeks to make its mission of ridding the world’s oceans of plastic an achievable and realistic goal.
Interviews and vessel tours are available on request.
PRACTICALITIES
Date: September 6, 2024
Press conference: 12 pm (noon)
Location: The Exploratorium (Google Maps)
Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green Street), San Francisco, CA
Parking: Visit The Exploratorium’s website for details.
RSVP: press@theoceancleanup.com
Video & photo material from several viewing spots around the bay
We look forward to seeing you there!
ABOUT THE OCEAN CLEANUP
The Ocean Cleanup is an international non-profit that develops and scales technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. They aim to achieve this goal through a dual strategy: intercepting in rivers to stop the flow and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean. For the latter, The Ocean Cleanup develops and deploys large-scale systems to efficiently concentrate the plastic for periodic removal. This plastic is tracked and traced to certify claims of origin when recycling it into new products. To curb the tide via rivers, The Ocean Cleanup has developed Interceptor™ Solutions to halt and extract riverine plastic before it reaches the ocean. As of June 2024, the non-profit has collected over 12 million kilograms (26.4 million pounds) of plastic from aquatic ecosystems around the world. Founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup now employs a broadly multi-disciplined team of approximately 140. The foundation is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and opened its first regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2023.
Find out more about The Ocean Cleanup at www.theoceancleanup.com.
A shark has been spotted approaching Royal William Yard in Plymouth, much to the surprise of swimmers, paddleboarders and onlookers.
With its distinctive dorsal fin cutting through the water, the sizeable shark swam along the coastline, before turning to head inland towards Firestone Arch at Royal William Yard. The appearance drew a crowd, who were captivated for more than an hour by the unusual sight – and it was all caught on video.
The shark is one of many expected sightings at Royal William Yard over the coming weeks… because today marks the start of Shark Month!
In reality, the ‘shark’ spotted along the Plymouth shoreline was actually a custom-made model, created by the team at Royal William Yard and sailed underwater by Caroline Robertson‑Brown from the Shark Trust, who donned scuba diving gear for the occasion.
The stunt took place to launch Shark Month in style and draw attention to the work of the leading international conservation charity, which is based in Britain’s Ocean City. Spectators were reassured that the water was safe and many entered into the spirit of the performance, swimming or sailing alongside the shark.
Shark Month will take place across Royal William Yard throughout July and will feature an extravaganza of art, entertainment and advocacy for everyone to enjoy. The packed programme of events starts with an art exhibition and ends with a trip on paddleboards with shark experts – with everything from a shark quiz to a Jaws screening in between.
Paul Cox, CEO of the Shark Trust, said: “There are often assumptions and misconceptions when it comes to sharks. This was certainly the case with the shark spotted at Royal William Yard! While the British coastline is home to many species of shark, this was not one of them. However, we’re thrilled it caught people’s attention, because seeing a shark is a special and memorable moment. That is precisely why we want to celebrate these incredible creatures, highlight the need for conservation, and ask for help to safeguard their future.”
For more information about Shark Month at Royal William Yard, visit the Shark Trust Website.
Images and video: Jay Stone
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