The Smallest Mollusk Museum

I came across this podcast today:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/podcast-the-smallest-mollusk-museum

Super Fun!  I need to visit it someday.

Halloween Costume Nudi

I need a really good Halloween Costume this year.  Should I get this?

https://www.anacosplayone.com/products/sea-slug-onesie

I could also wear it for SlugFest 2027... but it would be REALLY hot!

Steinbeck Slug Sentences

This came across my feed today:

https://slugsite.us/bow2007/nudwk1442.htm

In the book Cannery Row, Steinbeck mentions nudibranchs twice in the first 27 pages.  So cool.  

I guess I need to read that book now.

Nudi Merch

Waterlust just launched some nudi wear!

https://waterlust.com/collections/nudibranchs-marine-ecosystem-biodiversity

Blackwater Cozumel Slugs

From 7/16/26 - 7/24/26, I went on a trip to Cozumel to improve my Blackwater Dive skills.  I wasn't necessarily looking for any nudis but I came across three that I will share here.

On the first day, I did two morning checkout dives to ensure that my gear was functioning.

We had a great dive guide named Maya who was from Canada.  She found two slugs for me:

Thuridilla picta

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/382677417

Elysia ornata

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/382677416

On the very last blackwater dive, I left my camera on the boat.  On purpose.  I had forgotten to change the camera battery.  I was ok with this and just went with my spotter light.  Of course, as soon as I got down, I saw it.  The Pelagic Nudibranch!!!  I was sad because I didn't have my camera but ecstatic that I got to see it.

Phylliroe bucephala

Here is a picture of a pelagic nudibranch from Linda Ianniello:

https://lindaiphotography.com/black-water-mollusks/

I will find it again someday.  In fact, I am already considering a couple of other Blackwater trips.

Wool Creature Lab

A friend tipped me off to this vendor who makes nudibranchs made of wool.  Pretty awesome!

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/03/wool-creature-lab-arina-bovenich-felted-wool-nudibranchs/

https://woolcreaturelab.com/

Slug Summary

Here is the photo we took on the boat:

Back: John, Anne-Li, Karolle, Karen, Jeremy, Kristen, Me, Caroline

Front: Jeanette, Vanessa, Roxy, Elisha, Gary

I left a good tip and nice note to the resort about JR:

It was Kristen's birthday today and even though we were leaving at 2pm, they presented her with a cake and a song at breakfast!

We had to be out of the rooms by 11am because there is another big group coming in today.

I packed and then spent a little over an hour at the pool.  It was HOT!

We all sat around the bar and had lunch and then cake before leaving.  

Gary's count overall was 171 species.  Here is the visual he put together.

I only saw 91 of them.  Here is my Trending Graph for this trip:

Here are the ones that were new to me in life.

1. The very special Elysia sp.
2. Elysia sp. 8
3. Gymnodoris sp. 23
4. Mariaglaja alexisi/Nakamigawaia sp. 1
5. Plakobranchus papua
6. Scyllaea fulva
7. Tenellia sp. 6
8. Trinchesiid sp. (cream with yellow and orange patch behind rhinophores)
9. Trinchesiid sp. (cream with purple oral tentacles and orange cerata with pink tips)

I did 34 dives bringing me to a lifetime total of 2571.  

Until next time!