White/orange/purple Cratena peregrina and Flabellina affinis nudibranch, Corfu, Greece by Aniek Stevense

About "White/orange/purple Cratena peregrina and Flabellina affinis nudibranch, Corfu, Greece"

by Aniek Stevense

About the artwork

This picture of these little nudibranch (~2cm) has been taken in Corfu, Greece.

Cratena peregrina and Flabellina affinis are two of the most striking nudibranchs found in the Mediterranean Sea. Despite their small size, they stand out for their vivid colors and elegant shapes.

Both species feed on hydroid colonies and have developed a fascinating defense strategy: they store the stinging cells from their prey inside their own bodies and use them for protection. In addition, they can absorb pigments and even photosynthetic organisms from their food. These remain active within their tissues, allowing the slugs to benefit from energy produced through photosynthesis.

It’s a clever mix of predation and sunlight use — a rare example of cooperation between animal and plant life. Together, Cratena peregrina and Flabellina affinis show just how inventive and complex marine life can be.

This underwater photo was taken while diving, focusing on the small marine life that often goes unnoticed. Underwater macro photography requires a lot of skill and control – you move, the subject moves, and light behaves completely differently than it does above the surface. Everything has to come together: buoyancy, timing, and sharp focus.

The result shows how much color, detail, and life exists beneath the surface. I photograph to make this hidden world visible and to show how unique and fragile it really is.

Want to see more images from this series? Take a look at my full gallery here on Werk aan de Muur.