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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 rhinophore.
Although these sea slugs live on the open ocean, they sometimes accidentally wash up onto the shore, so they may be found on beaches. [10] In April 2022, specimens were found in the Gulf of Mexico along the Texas coast. [19] On August 31, 2023, blue sea slugs were reported to be found along Karon Beach, Phuket, Thailand. [20] [21]
The exact systematics of nudibranchs are a topic of recent revision. Traditionally, nudibranchs have been treated as the order Nudibranchia, located in the gastropod mollusc subclass Opisthobranchia (the marine slugs: which consisted of nudibranchs, sidegill slugs, bubble snails, algae sap-sucking sea slugs, and sea hares). [44]
Don't let the beautiful color of the glaucus atlanticus, also known as the "blue dragon," fool you -- its sting is to be feared.
Some sea slugs are very brightly colored. This serves either as a warning, when they are poisonous or contain stinging cells, or to camouflage them on the brightly colored hydroids, sponges, and seaweeds on which many of the species are found. [citation needed] Lateral outgrowths on the body of nudibranchs are called cerata.
Navanax inermis, common name the California aglaja, is a large species of predatory sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Aglajidae. Navanax is not a nudibranch, even though it somewhat resembles one; it belongs to a more ancient lineage of opisthobranchs called the cephalaspideans or head shield slugs and snails.
The green slugs have algae cells in their skin, so they can feed off light like a plant until they develop a new body, which takes about 20 days. Sea slugs lose heads to rid bodies of parasites ...
In addition to trapping prey, the slug's hood can snap shut and propel the animal away from danger. Predators might overlook the sea slug's transparent body or be startled by its bioluminescence ...