Glaucus atlanticus
Glaucus atlanticus common names include the sea swallow, blue angel, blue glaucus, blue dragon, blue sea slug and blue ocean slug is a species of small, blue sea slug.
Believe it or not, this little sea slug or nudibranch, is pelagic (lives in the open water). It is often found floating upside down on the surface of the ocean in temperate and tropical waters in such regions as the east and south coasts of South Africa, Mozambique, European waters, the east coast of Australia, and the islands of Hawaii.
They also have been spotted in the waters of Bermuda. Its average size when fully grown is a whopping 3-4cm. The blue dragon's floating abilities are due to a gas-filled sac located in its stomach. Because of its location, this sac causes the slug to float upside down exposing its blue-white foot to the surface of the water, leaving the silver-gray dorsal surface facing downward into the water.
This is an example of counter shading, where the coloration helps to protect the organism from it predators both below and above. These slugs spend most of their lives drifting along, directed by currents and winds. They are generally not observed by humans except on those occasions when strong onshore winds bring masses of them (often called the "blue fleet") to beaches, causing much pain for swimmers and beach-goers.
These sea slugs are pelagic: they float upside down by using the surface tension of the water to stay up, where they are carried along by the winds and ocean currents. Glaucus atlanticus is camouflaged: the blue side of their body faces upwards, blending in with the blue of the water. The silver/grey side of the sea slugs faces downwards, blending in with the silvery surface of the sea.
At maturity Glaucus atlanticus can be up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in length. It is silvery grey on its dorsal side and dark and pale blue ventrally. It has dark blue stripes on its head. It has a tapering body which is flattened, and has six appendages which branch out into rayed, finger-like cerata.
The radula of this species bears serrated teeth.
Hope you like this article.
Glaucus atlanticus common names include the sea swallow, blue angel, blue glaucus, blue dragon, blue sea slug and blue ocean slug is a species of small, blue sea slug.
Believe it or not, this little sea slug or nudibranch, is pelagic (lives in the open water). It is often found floating upside down on the surface of the ocean in temperate and tropical waters in such regions as the east and south coasts of South Africa, Mozambique, European waters, the east coast of Australia, and the islands of Hawaii.
They also have been spotted in the waters of Bermuda. Its average size when fully grown is a whopping 3-4cm. The blue dragon's floating abilities are due to a gas-filled sac located in its stomach. Because of its location, this sac causes the slug to float upside down exposing its blue-white foot to the surface of the water, leaving the silver-gray dorsal surface facing downward into the water.
This is an example of counter shading, where the coloration helps to protect the organism from it predators both below and above. These slugs spend most of their lives drifting along, directed by currents and winds. They are generally not observed by humans except on those occasions when strong onshore winds bring masses of them (often called the "blue fleet") to beaches, causing much pain for swimmers and beach-goers.
These sea slugs are pelagic: they float upside down by using the surface tension of the water to stay up, where they are carried along by the winds and ocean currents. Glaucus atlanticus is camouflaged: the blue side of their body faces upwards, blending in with the blue of the water. The silver/grey side of the sea slugs faces downwards, blending in with the silvery surface of the sea.
At maturity Glaucus atlanticus can be up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in length. It is silvery grey on its dorsal side and dark and pale blue ventrally. It has dark blue stripes on its head. It has a tapering body which is flattened, and has six appendages which branch out into rayed, finger-like cerata.
The radula of this species bears serrated teeth.
Hope you like this article.
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