OFF THE PATH · Issue 6

“Sea Bunny” Eats Poison to Protect Itself

Natural History Museum scientist Suzanne Williams explains the biology behind the sea bunny, a nudibranch (a marine slug). Despite the rabbit-like look, every part of it does something:

• Rhinophores: the “ears” are sensory tentacles that pick up chemical cues in the water to find food, mates or predators.
• Gills: the fluffy bits on the tail let it breathe underwater.
• Caryophyllidia: the “fur” is made of small bumps that help it read its surroundings.

And the cute part comes with a catch: sea bunnies are likely poisonous, carrying toxins they absorb from the sponges they eat.