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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.
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 ...
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]
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 ...
The rare blue dragon sea slug, which is now washing up on Texas coasts, has a severely painful sting.
Glaucus atlanticus, a nudibranch species Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same abbreviated species scientific name .
Thus, the very brightly colored nudibranchs are quite unpalatable for predators. Some nudibranchs, such as Glaucus atlanticus, are even capable of giving humans painful stings. The nudibranchs in this genus, however, use an opposite tactic.
The adaptations also explain the common name sea angel and the scientific name of the order: From Greek gymnos meaning "naked" and soma meaning "body". The lack of a heavy shell for gymnosomes allows them to hover on the upper water surfaces for longer periods, along with a streamlined body that reduces the drag coefficient.