Recently, several beaches in Spain were forced to shut down after an unusual invasion of blue sea dragons.
About Blue Sea Dragon:
The blue dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) is a type of mollusk known as a nudibranch.
They also are known as blue sea slugs, blue angels, and sea swallows.
Distribution: It can be found drifting on the surface of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans in temperate and tropical waters.
Diet of Blue Sea Dragon
They feed on venomous siphonophores such as the Portuguese man-o-war and bluebottle, which also occur in ocean surface waters.
When a blue sea dragon consumes its venomous prey, it doesn’t just digest the toxins. Instead, through a complex biological process, it transports the stinging cells or nematocysts from its digestive system to specialised finger-like projections called cerata on its back and sides.
They incorporate these cells into multiple finger-like structures protruding from their body which provides them with a potent form of protection from predators.
The slug isn’t venomous all on its own, however, it stores the stinging nematocysts created by the creatures on which it feeds.
Its sting can cause problems, especially to children and elderly.
One sting from this little creature can lead to nausea, pain, vomiting, acute allergic contact dermatitis, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
They are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs.
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