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It's Sea Slug Day: Here Are 8 Adorable Ones You Can Find In SoCal

By  Carman Tse
Published Oct 30, 2015 12:00 AM
spanish_shawl.jpg
The Spanish shawl nudibranch (Flabellina iodinea), one of the more charismatic species of nudibranchs off California's coast. This one was photographed in Ripper's Cove off Catalina Island (Photo by Ray Ellersick via the Creative Commons)
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Who cares about cats? Today is Sea Slug Day!October 29 is the birthday of Terry Gosliner from the San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences, the premier expert on nudibranchs, colloquially known as sea slugs. In celebration of Gosliner's birthday and the wonderful diversity of ocean life, the scientific corners of the Internet have decided to make it #SeaSlugDay.

The term "sea slug" is usually used to refer to nudibranchs but it also applies to other related and similar-looking marine gastropods, including sea hares. They are found in the oceans worldwide and contain thousands of unique species. Our Southern Californian waters are home to several species, including many colorful ones, that our diverse and tidepoolers alike can respectfully enjoy. Here are a few of them.