Hooded Nudibranch
Melibe leonina
Sighting evidence at Dodd Narrows, British Columbia
Hooded nudibranchs swarm the kelp fronds and anemone fields at Dodd Narrows in summer, their translucent bodies and flapping cerata making them resemble miniature jellyfish. Unlike most nudibranchs they are active swimmers, releasing their grip on the substrate and undulating through the water when disturbed. They trap small crustaceans with an oral hood that expands like a net — a completely unique feeding strategy among nudibranchs — and emit a distinctive smell described as watermelon or sweet fruit.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Hooded Nudibranch is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.