Racemose Doto nudibranch, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia.

by Aniek Stevense

Racemose Doto nudibranch, ~0.5cm, taken in Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia.

The Racemose Doto is a small, fragile nudibranch found in the Mediterranean Sea and along the Atlantic coasts. It is usually seen on hydroid colonies, its main source of food.

Like other Doto species, it stores the stinging cells from its prey in its cerata, using them later for defense. Some individuals can also absorb pigments and photosynthetic algae from their food. These algae remain active in its tissues, providing an additional source of energy through photosynthesis.

Despite its small size, the Racemose Doto demonstrates how clever marine life can be: combining effective defense with efficient energy use, even at just a few centimeters long.
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.