nudibranch
noun
nu·di·branch
| \ ˈnü-də-ˌbraŋk
, ˈnyü-\
, ˈnyü-\
plural nudibranchs
Definition of nudibranch
: any of an order (Nudibranchia) of marine opisthobranch mollusks without a shell in the adult state and without true gills
Illustration of nudibranch
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Examples of nudibranch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The nudibranch, besides using the hydroids for habitat, regularly consume its home colony’s polyps. — Sid Perkins, Science | AAAS, "This sea slug has a trick for getting an extra treat," 31 Oct. 2017 With their dazzling colors and intricate patterns, nudibranchs are among the world’s most glamorous marine creatures. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "This Sea Slug Has a Crafty Way of Getting Super-Sized Meals," 4 Nov. 2017 The video from his April 17 dive revealed vibrant sea creatures that have made the chilly northern waters their home—among them, a transparent Arctic jellyfish, a sparkly skeleton shrimp, and a white nudibranch, or soft-bodied mollusk. — Hannah Lang, National Geographic, "A Thriving Ecosystem Is Hiding Underneath Greenland’s Ice Caps," 6 July 2017 But the nudibranchs were doing something that had never been observed before: stealing prey by eating the original predator. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "This Sea Slug Has a Crafty Way of Getting Super-Sized Meals," 4 Nov. 2017 The nudibranch Cratena peregrina (pictured), a type of sea slug, often attacks prey that have just eaten, thus getting an extra boost of nutrition from the prey’s undigested meal, a new analysis reveals. — Sid Perkins, Science | AAAS, "This sea slug has a trick for getting an extra treat," 31 Oct. 2017 If threatened by a predator, the nudibranch will discharge the stinging cells, says Valdés. — Liz Langley, National Geographic, "7 Real-Life Dragons That Live Up to Their Names," 28 Jan. 2017 Name a flashy color, and there’s probably a nudibranch that rocks it, like a 1980s neon nightmare. — Matt Simon, WIRED, "Absurd Creature of the Week: This Crazy-Looking Sea Slug Has an Ingenious Secret Weapon," 7 Nov. 2014These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nudibranch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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