P Plater Ralliart walking along a beach on the Gold coast in Australia, recently when they came across this odd critter. Blue, tiny and looking like a creature from a cartoon, the creatures is a “Glaucus Atlanticus.”
Also known as “the blue dragon,” the animal is, in fact, a sea slug or a shell-less gastropod mollusk. The tiny creatures, which are around 3 cm in length, float upside down on the surface of the sea. Their blue and silver color acts as a camouflage to match the colors of the surface and underside of the water.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
However, as small and beautiful as the blue dragon is, it’s deadly! The creature has a powerful venom that helps it feed on other pelagic creatures such as the Portuguese man o’ war. Yes, you read that right. It preys on Man o’ wars and actually has a venom more powerful and deadly than the feared siphonophore.
So if you see a blue dragon, look don’t touch!
Photo credit: Wikipedia
The blue dragon also has a remarkable ability to use its prey’s own venom against it. After the sea slug has consumed the Portuguese man o’ war it “picks” the most venomous nematocysts for its own use. What fascinating creatures!
Share the blue dragon with your nature-loving friends!
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