This Nudibranch, a Type of Sea Slug, Has Many Reddish

question 31

Multiple Choice

This nudibranch, a type of sea slug, has many reddish cerata on its dorsal surface, as well as two, white-tipped rhinophores located on the head.

The nontaxonomic term sea slug encompasses a wide variety of marine gastropods. One feature they share as adults is the lack of a shell. We might think, therefore, that they represent defenseless morsels for predators. In fact, sea slugs have multiple defenses. Some sea slugs prey on sponges and concentrate sponge toxins in their tissues. Others feed on cnidarians, digesting everything except the nematocysts, which they then transfer to their own skins. Whereas the most brightly colored sea slugs are often highly toxic, others are nontoxic and mimic the coloration of the toxic species. Their colors are mostly derived from pigments in their prey. There are also sea slugs that use their coloration to blend into their environments.
-By which structures are nematocysts most likely to reach the skin of sea slugs?

• A) the closed circulatory system
• B) branches of the intestine
• C) branches of the excurrent siphon
• D) branches of the nephridium
• E) branches of the pseudocoelom

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