The blue sea dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) is likely one of the most visually putting animals within the ocean. However there’s much more to this Pokémon-like creature than simply its appears to be like. From stealing venom from their prey to spending their total lives swimming the wrong way up, these tiny sea slugs show that measurement has nothing to do with fierceness.
We’ve put collectively this checklist of blue sea dragon information to indicate why these eye-catching creatures deserve a spot amongst the best marine animals within the ocean.
1. They’re Nudibranchs — Not Dragons!
Regardless of their alien-like look and legendary identify, blue sea dragons are literally nudibranchs — a sort of soft-bodied, shell-less marine mollusk. Nudibranchs truly begin life with a shell, however shed it after their larval stage, leaving them with their recognizable our bodies.
Blue sea dragons additionally go by a number of different names, together with:
- Blue Glaucus
- Blue Angel
- Sea Swallow
- Blue Sea Slug
- Glaucus atlanticus
2. They Eat Venomous Animals
Blue sea dragons feast on venomous marine creatures which can be usually bigger than themselves. Their weight loss plan consists of blue buttons and, most notably, the Portuguese man o’ warfare — a siphonophore intently associated to jellyfish. The blue seadragons goal the tentacles of their prey (extra on that in #3!).
3. Their Sting Is Surprisingly Highly effective
Within the strategy of consuming the person o’ warfare tentacles, blue sea dragons are capable of take away and retailer the stinging cells (nematocysts) in their very own tissues. This works as a strong protection towards potential predators, together with people.
Moreover, as a result of blue sea dragons focus these stinging cells in specialised storage pockets known as cnidosacs, they’re capable of ship a extra intense sting than the unique man o’ warfare (which solely releases stinging cells separately).
4. They Float Upside Down
Not like most nudibranchs, blue sea dragons don’t reside on the ocean ground. As an alternative, they spend their total lives floating on the water’s floor the wrong way up! They keep afloat because of a mixture of floor rigidity and a small air bubble they swallow and retailer of their stomachs.
5. They Use the Similar Camouflage Method as Nice White Sharks
Like nice white sharks, blue sea dragons make the most of countershading to remain hidden within the ocean. Countershading is an adaptation by which the animal’s higher (dorsal) facet is darker, whereas the underside (ventral) is lighter, serving to them mix into their environment.
For blue sea dragons, their blue underside (which truly faces upward) blends in with the blue of the ocean when seen from above, whereas the silvery topside (dealing with downward) is ready to mix in with the sky and daylight when seen from under.
6. They Are Hermaphrodites
Blue sea dragons are hermaphrodites, that means every particular person has each female and male reproductive organs. After a pair mates, they produce a string of eggs, which is usually hooked up to floating particles and even unsuspecting prey!
7. They’re Small
Regardless of their highly effective sting and fierce fame, blue sea dragons are tiny, and solely attain a most size of 1 inch (three centimeters).
8. They’re Horrible Swimmers
Blue sea dragons are pelagic creatures, that means they reside within the open ocean. However regardless of calling tropical and subtropical waters residence throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, they’re surprisingly dangerous swimmers. As an alternative of actively navigating the seas, these surface-dwelling nudibranchs merely go wherever the winds and currents take them.
That is why your finest likelihood of seeing one is when sturdy winds wash them up on shore.
9. A Group of Blue Dragons Is Often called a “Blue Fleet”
When plenty of blue sea dragons grow to be concentrated into a big group, they grow to be what is called a “blue fleet.” This phenomenon is mostly witnessed when currents or sturdy winds pressure a “blue fleet” ashore — usually accompanied by different drifters, similar to blue bottles or Portuguese man o’ wars.
Prepared To Uncover the Ocean’s Coolest Creatures for Your self?
Have our blue sea dragon information impressed you to hunt out the best marine creatures? Whereas predictably discovering blue sea dragons is uncommon, discovering different unbelievable macro critters is far simpler.
Try these prime macro dive websites for inspiration, or in the event you’re able to make the leap, click on under to start out your scuba diving course.
