Jewels of the Sea

Altilapis, otherwise known as Sea Jewels. This is my entry for , and the challange was to combine two marine species in as original a way as possible. My sea jewels are a mix between a bottlenose dolphin and a nudibranch (commonly known as sea slugs).

Altilapis, as they are officially called, have gills, including the set of "naked gills" nudibranchs are so well known for. Also like nudibranchs, sea jewels have both male and female organs, but two are involved in the reproduction process. The parent carries the pup inside its body all throughout the early stages of life, from egg, to "larva" to "pupa". The terms are in quotes because even though the stages of growth are very similar to that of a nudibranch, the growing pup is not generally reffered to as a larva or pupa, but an inchota when it is developing inside the womb. Once born, it is commonly called a pup.

Sea jewels are quite intelligent, like dolphins, and will have elaborate strategies when preying on schools of their favorite meal, mackerel.

Sea jewels are (c) to
Enjoy.