Marine Life & Conservation
O’behave Part 1
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Barkley Sound is home to a great many species of nudibranchs in equal amount of sizes and colours. It
strikes me sometimes that divers who do find these beautiful creatures give them a quick glance, maybe
take a photograph and then move on to larger and more exiting species such as octopus, wolf eel etc. In
doing so they miss a chance to see some of the weirdest and yet more interesting hunters at work.
Particularly the Giant Nudibranch (Dendronotus iris) who is a lover of sandy areas between rocks is
worth observing for a while. In winter and early spring vast numbers of this nudibranch can be seen in
shallow water hunting for food or laying eggs. The Giant Nudibranch is a lover of the tube dwelling
anemone (Pachycerianthus torreyi) who is an inhabitant of the sandy areas too. Since nudibranchs have
no eyes the detection of its favourite snack takes place via its sensory organs, the so-called rhinophores,
which are basically chemical detectors. Once the prey is located by means of the rhinophores or
sometimes by running into the stinging cells of the anemone, an interesting spectacle takes place. In
slow motion the Giant Nudibranch prepares itself for the attack by coming closer to the anemone and
slowly rearing itself up, thus exposing its head with the radulae, a series of file like extensions with
teeth on it. It then literally dives down into the anemone’s tube with amazing speed. The anemone
sometimes detects the attack in time and retreats into the tube. But if it is a split second too late, the
nudibranch will grab a hold of the tentacles and try to tear them out of the tube. This whole act can take
a minute or 2 and on occasion the nudibranch will completely miss its target and end up in the sand.
Other times, the nudibranch is pulled into the tube only to emerge, eventually, with a few tentacles. In
any case it is a great thing to observe. Another cool fact is that the stinging cells of the anemone are
“absorbed”by the nudibranch and are thus used for its defence. Incidentally this nudibranch has a dual
relationship with the tube dwelling anemone as it is both food and a safe haven for the nudibranch to
lay its eggs on or next to the anemone. Its stinging cells most likely keep other predators who like the
nudibranch eggs at bay. The egg mass, which is laid in spiralling white ribbons, looks like an old
telephone cord.
And just as you thought that this was strange behaviour, this nudibranch has another trick up its sleeve.
If the nudibranch is disturbed it can take off and swim. In an undulating motion its propels itself
through the water (mostly up and down) and it has earned itself the nickname of Spanish dancer after
its famous colleague in the Red Sea. So next time you see the Giant Nudibranch, give yourself a bit
more time and you may observe this spectacle yourself.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.
Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.
On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.
Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.
Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”
The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.
To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.
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