White-and-Orange-Tipped Nudibranch (Janolus fuscus)

Description: Nicknamed the candy corn nudibranch, this species is covered in cerata (tentacle-like structures) that have orange and white tips. Each ceras has a translucent color and a brown stipe at its core. This species is relatively small, only growing to about 2.5 cm long. Sometimes confused with the thick-horned nudibranch, the white-and-orange-tipped nudibranch can be correctly identified by the absent white and blue stripe down the center of their back that is found on the thick-horned nudibranch. At Haystack Rock nudibranchs are typically found in the lower intertidal areas on the South side of the rock or in front of The Needles. The white-and-orange-tipped nudibranch is often found in the water and can even be seen swimming upside down.

Habitat: In North America, white-and-orange-tipped nudibranchs are found ranging from Alaska to Southern California in intertidal to subtidal zones. This species is also found in the Western Pacific in Japan.

Diet: The white-and-orange-tipped nudibranch primarily eats bryozoans.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• A study conducted in Oregon revealed that many white-and-orange-tipped nudibranchs are infected by a parasitic copepod called Ismaila belciki. Research shows that up to 80% of the population may be infected.

Reference: Walla Walla University, Wolf & Young 2014