Circle of Life - Hooded Nudibranchs on Bull Kelp

Background: I was striving to capture the sun highlighting the scene. Suddenly, and very briefly, the current wafted the kelp fronds into this circle. I was taken aback by the beauty but thought to hit the shutter release in time. Hooded Nudibranchs (Melibe leonina) are up 17.5 cm long. The structures on their head are rhinophores by which they smell their way around. The lobed structures on their back are the naked (nudi) gills (branchs). Hooded Nudibranchs smell like watermelon. This odor may have a role in aggregating and mating or it could help repel predators