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Glaucus atlanticus is the blue sea slug shown here out of water on a beach, and thus collapsed; however, touching the animal directly with your skin can result in a painful sting, with symptoms similar to those caused by the Portuguese man o' war The slug in the water
In the North Pacific are Glaucus marginatus, Glaucus thompsoni and Glaucus mcfarlanei, with Glaucus marginatus also occurring in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific. Also in the South Pacific is Glaucus bennettae. [4] [11] Glaucus atlanticus has some genetic differences in different parts of its range but is considered to be a single species ...
The rare blue dragon sea slug, which is now washing up on Texas coasts, has a severely painful sting.
Don't let the beautiful color of the glaucus atlanticus, also known as the "blue dragon," fool you -- its sting is to be feared. Rare sighting of mesmerizing but threatening sea creature Skip to ...
Glaucus atlanticus is a blue pelagic aeolid nudibranch. Individuals in this species can be dangerous for humans to handle; the cnidosacs of G. atlanticus often contain particularly powerful venomous stinging cells from one of its food species: the pelagic siphonophore known as the Portuguese Man o' War, Physalia physalis. [3]
Still, the color can warn other animals of the sea slug's toxic stinging cells (nematocysts) or offensive taste. Like all gastropods , they have small, razor-sharp teeth called radulas . Most sea slugs have a pair of rhinophores —sensory tentacles used primarily for the sense of smell—on their head, with a small eye at the base of each ...
Glaucus atlanticus is an example of a nudibranch that has its cerata positioned like wings instead of on its back. The name nudibranch is appropriate, since the dorids (infraclass Anthobranchia ) breathe through a "naked gill" shaped into branchial plumes in a rosette on their backs. [ 20 ]
It is preyed on by the sea slug Glaucus atlanticus (sea swallow or blue dragon), violet sea-snails of the genus Janthina, [12] and the other blue dragon, Glaucus marginatus. [13] Unlike Velella , which prefers a passive diet, Porpita will hunt active crustaceans like crab and fish. [ 14 ]