This amazing little nudibranch belongs to a group of animals that feed on the eggs of other nudibranchs or in this case, bubble shells (see Haminoea E502 in this set). They enter the jelly-like clear egg bubble to feed on the tiny eggs. Once all the eggs are consumed, it appears they are able to move to another bubble, as we observed they are able to slide rapidly along a sandy bottom as we photographed them. One egg case was home to 4 of these nudibranchs so the banquet of eggs wouldn't last long. This was one of the largest animals at 5mm.
24 April 2011