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G. atlanticus feeds on other pelagic creatures, including the Portuguese man o' war and other venomous siphonophores. This sea slug stores stinging nematocysts from the siphonophores within its own tissues as defence against predators. Humans handling the slug may receive a very painful and potentially dangerous sting.
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]
"Recently, our community has marveled at the sighting of a rare blue dragon, scientifically known as Glaucus atlanticus, along our coastline," a release from the county states.
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 ...
Add to the list a slew of Glaucus Atlanticus, also known as the blue dragon or blue sea slug. A woman discovered some of the species on a walk along Fish Hoek Beach near Cape Town in South Africa ...
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 ...
This is because it is a passive drifter, which means that it relies on water currents and wind to carry it through the ocean. 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]
Like many nudibranchs, Glaucus atlanticus can store and use stinging cells, or nematocysts, from its prey (Portuguese man o' war) in its finger-like cerata. [9] Other species, like the Pyjama slug Chromodoris quadricolor, may use their striking colors to advertise their foul chemical taste.