Created on Day 5
April 5, 2012
Part of this creature’s defense mechanism is its bright coloring. Also, when laying its eggs, the female Spanish dancer deposits a toxin with them, which keeps predators from eating the undeveloped Spanish dancers. The information for these habits was given to this creature by its Creator.
- The Spanish dancer’s flattened body is brightly colored in shades of red, pink, or orange.
- Some are a solid color and some are patterned, depending on the location.
- This is the only nudibranch family that has six gills.
- This creature gets its name from the appearance of its swimming motion. It resembles the flaring skirt of a Spanish dancer.
- The male Spanish dancer enters dance competitions to win its mate.
- This creature is one of the most colorful in the world.
- This species was first described in the Red Sea, where its solid red form is found.
GENUS/SPECIES: Hexabranchus sanguineus
Size: Up to 1.5 ft (0.45 m)
Habitat: Shallow waters of tropical Indian Ocean and western Pacific, on coasts and reefs