Bathydevius

Bathydevius is a bizarre nudibranch with a highly unusual appearance, ecology, and taxonomy. It is the first known nudibranch to inhabit the bathypelagic zone, and only one of very few pelagic, free-swimming genera within this generally benthic group. It has a large, bell-shaped oral hood that it can use to catch prey, superficially similar to that of a Venus flytrap and closely resembling that of the nudibranch Melibe. However, phylogenetic studies indicate that Bathydevius is not closely related to Melibe, and is rather either (based on rRNA) the most basal nudibranch genus or (based on mtDNA) the sister genus to the Bathydorididae. == Distribution ==

A majority of observations of Bathydevius are off the coast of California from the Monterey Canyon, but individuals have also been observed near Davidson Seamount, off the coast of Point Conception, and off the coast of Oregon. In addition, two individuals of a similar nudibranch were observed near the Mariana Trench, which would potentially extend the range of this genus or its relatives to the western Pacific. == Description ==

Bathydevius ranges between to in size, and when fully expanded, its hood has a diameter of . The flexible hood can be shaped into a variety of configurations, to the extent that the highly prehensile margin of the hood can form notches. This hood is used to catch planktonic prey such as the shrimp Boreomysis. Its tail has finger-like protrusions, hence the specific epithet caudactylus. Bathydevius appears to neither sink nor rise when suspended in water, suggesting that it has a density roughly equivalent to that of seawater. == Life history ==

Although Bathydevius generally swims in midwater, it descends and attaches to the seafloor when ready to breed. When attached, it releases a ribbon of eggs. At least 20 individuals have been observed attached to the seafloor. As with most other gastropods, it is hermaphroditic. == Discovery ==

Bathydevius was first discovered in February 2000 by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute using the ROV Tiburon, at a depth of in Monterey Bay, California. The holotype specimen was collected in January 2004, and over 157 individuals were documented in dives spanning from 2000 to 2021; during this period of study, it came to be nicknamed the "mystery mollusk" until its taxonomic identity was determined. Following extensive documentation of its taxonomy, ecology, and life history, it was finally described in November 2024. At least one spawning Bathydevius individual has survived being captured alive and brought to the surface. It spawned within an aquarium tank and released an egg ribbon that attached to the bottom of the tank, which successfully developed into larvae. ==References==