What is that? Is that some kind of animal from final fantasy?
It is a planktonic animal that belongs to the oceanic group known as
Nudibranches. Glaucus atlanticus, that's what we call it. However, Nudibraches is also thought of as an "unusual" group of molluscs. Glaucus atlanticus is a species of small-sized blue sea slug, a pelagic aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Glaucidae. It also has plenty of names, like sea swallow, blue glaucus, blue sea slug and blue ocean slug.
This is the only species in the genus Glaucus, but is closely related to Glaucilla marginata, another member of the family Glaucidae. The normal size of this species is up to 3 cm. It has dark blue stripes along the edge of its foot. It is silvery grey on its dorsal side and dark and pale blue ventrally. It has a tapering body which is flattened and has six appendages which branch out into rayed cerata. Its radular teeth bear serrated teeth on their blades. This nudibranch is pelagic, and is distributed throughout the world's oceans, in temperate and tropical waters.
Regions where this slug is found include the East and South Coast of South Africa, European waters, the east coast of Australia and Mozambique. This species floats upside down on the surface tension of the ocean.
G. atlanticus eats other, larger pelagic organisms: the dangerously venomous Portuguese Man o' War Physalia physalis; the by-the-wind-sailor Velella velella; the blue button Porpita porpita; and the violet snail, Janthina janthina. Occasionally, individual Glaucus become cannibals given the opportunity.
Because Glaucus stores the venom, it can produce a more powerful and deadly sting than the Man o' War upon which it feeds.
With the aid of a gas-filled sac in its stomach, Glaucus atlanticus floats at the surface. Due to the location of the gas sac the sea swallow floats upside down. The dorsal surface, actually the foot and underside, has either a blue or blue-white coloration. The true dorsal surface is completely silver-grey. This coloration is an example of counter shading, which helps protect it from predators from below, sides and above.
Like most sea slugs, Glaucus is a hermaphrodite, containing both male and female reproductive organs. Unlike most nudibranchs, which mate with their right sides facing, sea swallows mate with ventral sides facing. After mating, both animals produce egg strings.
Scientists have often argued over whether Glaucus atlanticus moves on its own or depends on wind for locomotion.
Regions where this slug is found include the East and South Coast of South Africa, European waters, the east coast of Australia and Mozambique. This species floats upside down on the surface tension of the ocean.
G. atlanticus eats other, larger pelagic organisms: the dangerously venomous Portuguese Man o' War Physalia physalis; the by-the-wind-sailor Velella velella; the blue button Porpita porpita; and the violet snail, Janthina janthina. Occasionally, individual Glaucus become cannibals given the opportunity.
Because Glaucus stores the venom, it can produce a more powerful and deadly sting than the Man o' War upon which it feeds.
With the aid of a gas-filled sac in its stomach, Glaucus atlanticus floats at the surface. Due to the location of the gas sac the sea swallow floats upside down. The dorsal surface, actually the foot and underside, has either a blue or blue-white coloration. The true dorsal surface is completely silver-grey. This coloration is an example of counter shading, which helps protect it from predators from below, sides and above.
Like most sea slugs, Glaucus is a hermaphrodite, containing both male and female reproductive organs. Unlike most nudibranchs, which mate with their right sides facing, sea swallows mate with ventral sides facing. After mating, both animals produce egg strings.Scientists have often argued over whether Glaucus atlanticus moves on its own or depends on wind for locomotion.
G. atlanticus is also able to eats P. physalis due to its immunity to the venomous nematocysts. The slug consumes the entire organism and appears to select and store the most venomous nematocysts for its own use. The venom is collected in specialized sacs (cnidosacs), on the tip of their cerata, the thin feather-like "fingers" on its body.
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