Glaucus atlanticus

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Glaucus atlanticus
Glaucus atlanticus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked):
Superfamily: Aeolidioidea
Family: Glaucidae
Genus: Glaucus
Forster, 1777
Species: G. atlanticus
Binomial name
Glaucus atlanticus
Forster, 1777

Glaucus atlanticus (commonly known as the sea swallow, blue angel, blue glaucus, blue dragon, blue sea slug and blue ocean slug) is a species of small-sized blue sea slug, a pelagic aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Glaucidae.[1] It is closely related to Glaucus marginatus, which is sometimes included in Glaucus.[2]

These sea slugs feed on other pelagic creatures including the venomous cnidarian, the Portuguese Man o' War. Because the sea slug stores stinging nematocysts from the cnidarian within its own tissues, a human picking up the sea slug may receive a very painful sting. For more information on the effects of the nematocysts, see Portuguese man o' war.

Characteristics

The blue sea slug (here shown out of water, and thus collapsed) is one of the smallest members of its biological family, Glaucidae

At maturity Glaucus atlanticus can be up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in length.[3] It is silvery grey on its dorsal side and dark and pale blue ventrally. It has dark blue stripes on its head. It has a tapering body which is flattened, and has six appendages which branch out into rayed, finger-like cerata.[4]

The radula of this species bears serrated teeth.[5]

Distribution and habitat

This nudibranch is pelagic, and occurs throughout the world's oceans, in temperate and tropical waters. Regions where this slug is found include the East and South Coast of South Africa, European waters, the east coast of Australia and Mozambique.[6] This species floats upside down on the surface tension of the ocean. Due to its unique means of feeding, it cannot be bred or kept in captivity without dooming it to a quick and certain death.[7]

Life history and behavior

G. atlanticus preys on other, larger pelagic organisms: the dangerously venomous Portuguese Man o' War Physalia physalis; the by-the-wind-sailor Velella velella; the blue button Porpita porpita; and the violet snail, Janthina janthina. Occasionally, individual Glaucus become cannibals given the opportunity.

G. atlanticus is able to feed on Physalia physalis due to its immunity to the venomous nematocysts. The slug consumes the entire organism and appears to select and store the most venomous nematocysts for its own use. The venom is collected in specialized sacs (cnidosacs), on the tip of the animal's cerata, the thin feather-like "fingers" on its body.[8] Because Glaucus concentrates the venom, it can produce a more powerful and deadly sting than the Man o' War upon which it feeds.[8]

With the aid of a gas-filled sac in its stomach, G. atlanticus floats at the surface. Due to the location of the gas sac, the sea swallow floats upside down. The upper surface, actually the foot (the underside in other snails), has either a blue or blue-white coloration. The true dorsal surface (downwards in G. atlanticus) is completely silver-grey. This coloration is an example of counter shading, which helps protect it from predators from below, sides, and above.

Like almost all heterobranchs, Glaucus is a hermaphrodite, having both male and female reproductive organs. Unlike most nudibranchs, which mate with their right sides facing, sea swallows mate with ventral sides facing.[9] After mating, both animals produce egg strings.

References

  1. ↑ Lalli, C. M.; Gilmer, R. W. (1989). Pelagic snails: the biology of holoplanktonic gastropod mollusks. Stanford University Press. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-8047-1490-7. Retrieved 13 Jan 2010. 
  2. ↑ WoRMS. "Glaucus". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 5 August 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Glaucus atlanticus (blue sea slug)". The Natural History Museum. Retrieved 2013-04-13. 
  4. ↑ Piper, R. (2007). Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-0-313-33922-6. 
  5. ↑ Thompson, T. E.; McFarlane, I. D. (2008). "Observations on a collection of Glaucus from the Gulf of Aden with a critical review of published records of Glaucidae (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia)". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 178 (2): 107–123. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1967.tb00967.x. 
  6. ↑ Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777. World Register of Marine Species, Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  7. ↑ http://undiscoveredcreatures.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/i-want-one-and-the-exotic-pet-paradigm/
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Rudman, W. B. (6 November 1998). "Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777". Sea Slug Forum. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
  9. ↑ Debelius, H.; Kuiter, R. H. (2007). Nudibranchs of the world. IKAN-Unterwasserarchiv. ISBN 978-3-939767-06-0. 

Further reading

External links

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