Spanish Dancer

on April 5, 2012

Part of this creature’s defense mechanism is its bright coloring.

Design

Spanish Dancer

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.

Features

  • 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.

Fun Facts

  • 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.

CLASS: Gastropoda
ORDER: Nudibranchia
FAMILY: Hexabranchidae
GENUS/SPECIES: Hexabranchus sanguineus

Size: Up to 1.5 ft (0.45 m)
Diet: Sponges
Habitat: Shallow waters of tropical Indian Ocean and western Pacific, on coasts and reefs

Aquarium Guide

With fun facts about more than 100 animals, this long-awaited Aquarium Guide includes beautiful pictures and reveals the incredible facts and design features that point to our amazing Creator. This handy size guide is excellent for school field trips and family trips to your favorite aquarium!

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