DEPTH Blog
Do Nudibranchs Have a Front and a Back?
"Every time I submerge, a feeling of excitement and exploration fills me."
The beginning of author Jennifer Idol's stay in Raja Ampat was filled with experiences of seeing a variety of animals for the first time - very exciting for this extremely experienced underwater photographer.
"I saw animals I'd dreamt of seeing like the wobbegong shark, mandarin fish, oceanic manta rays, and garden eels. I also turned my eye into the macro world. Generally, I consider myself a wide angle photographer, but conditions and life have made macro photography the name of the game here.
Before exploring California on my 50 state adventure, I never appreciated nudibranchs, but seeing the opalescent nudibranch there helped me appreciate the colorful dance of these gastropod moluscs.
Of the more than 2,300 known species of nudibranchs, I've seen at least a dozen in my first couple days. They do have a front and a back, noted by the rhinophores, or two antennae looking protrusions. I like the colorful and feathery looking nudibranchs best. The rocky looking ones seem to move less. Nonetheless, a close inspection shows a lot of character in a tiny invertebrate."
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About the author
Jennifer Idol, is an adventurer, explorer, entrepreneur, the first woman to dive 50 states and author of An American Immersion.
Her photography and articles are published in DIVER, Sport Diver, Alert Diver, SCUBA Diving, X-Ray Mag, Outdoor Oklahoma, SCUBA & H2O Adventure, and Texas Aquatic Science. Her work has been featured in competitions and exhibits across the country.
She is an accomplished designer with more than a decade of experience creating print, web, logo, and three-dimensional work for a variety of clients. The Lake Murray Wildlife Museum, Jacob’s Well Natural Area, and Texas Association of REALTORS® feature her work in permanent installations.
She’s earned more than 26 certifications and has been diving for 20 years. Her design firm, The Underwater Designer, provides design and photography services for clients in water related industries. Jennifer is a technical diver, designer, and underwater photographer. She helps others understand the underwater world through her photography, design, and by sharing her exploration.
An American Immersion by Jennifer Idol
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