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image credit: the doubtful guest
image credit: | Dan |
image credit: redbubble.comHabitat: around the world in temperate and tropical waters
This particular one I've chosen to feature is commonly known as a Blue Dragon nudibranch. It spends its life floating on the surface of the ocean, much like the Violet Sea Snail. They feed on the poisonous Man of War Jellyfish, collecting the animal's toxins and storing them in little sacs on the end of their feather-like "fingers." The Blue Dragon can produce a much more powerful and deadly sting than the Man of War due to its ability to store the poison.
So what do you think? Do you like the idea of having a "New Week Nudibranch" posted every Monday?
edit: reader Gabriele has pointed out another common name for this nudibranch - the Sea Swallow!
Be sure to check out the Home page for more crazy creatures!
67 comments:
That is the coolest little blue guy I've ever seen! More, please!
How are they able to hold these things if they're so poisonous?
@startlingmoniker
I'm assuming because that one is a baby that it hasn't absorbed enough Man of War toxins yet to really be painful to a person. However, if you were to touch a big one, you would be sure to get a nasty sting.
Great idea! I like those bugs specially when they are "swiming". Spanish dancer is one of my favorites.
I recently discovered your blog and it was love at first sigh.
w00t! Yay for nudibranchs! :D
Thanks for featuring them, I think they're amazing.
I've never seen the blue dragon before, it's fantastic!
Thank you :D (And, of course, I'd LOVE to see more!)
That's a thumbs up from me also. Loved that little guy, and absolutely love your blog. :) :)
What an awesome little being! The inherent intelligence of nature and its beauty never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for sharing.
What an unusual creature.... and yes... more, please!
Wonderful creature!
However, these appear to be pictures of Glaucus atlanticus (aka Sea Swallow) rather than a Pteraeolidia ianthina which I think is the species to which "blue dragon nudibranch" usually refers.
@Gabriele
You're right that these are pictures of Glaucus atlanticus and you're also correct that Pteraeolidia ianthina refers to a blue dragon nudibranch. However, in Australia, the common name "blue dragon" is used to refer to several species which happen to include BOTH the ones you have suggested. I have never heard of the name Sea Swallow but I'd be happy to add it to the list of names!
wow ! unbelivable ! i thugt it"s plastic ! that is amazing !
OMG so i've moved to Canada and i've not been able to keep post of featured creature as much as i've liked but nudibranch mondays sounds awesome! I can't believe the picture with the nudibrach in the hand!!! firstly - they are so small!!! secondly i thought they couldn't be taken out of their natural environment!!! either way i still <3 them :-)
OMG I WANT ONE!!
Thanks for sharing Carly,..I never heard of the nudibranch before and now..Im going to tell everyone I know :)
That's gotta be tgr coolest nudibranch i've ever had tgr pleasure of seeing absolutely gorgeous and yes nudibranch Mondays is an outstanding ideas two thumbs way up
So why the HELL are you holding it in the picture....... Dummy
YES!
Do you ever visit the Ocean Institute at Dana Point Harbor? I'm a volunteer there. We occasionally have nudibranchs there.
No I haven't been to the Ocean Institute! I keep meaning to go since that's where my boyfriend lives, we just haven't gotten around to it. Let me know when you get some nudis in and I'll make a special trip!! I just love 'em.
:)
Yes a weekly nudibranch is a great idea. I had never heard of these things until I stumbled on your blog. The blue dragon one you have here has got to be my favorite so far.
Lovely! Such beatiful colors! You rock evolution!
Omg, i want one of those!!
So awesome! I love the ocean :)
wow that this is freaking awesome!
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Black sails at midnight!
Wow, I'm a lover of all species.. But hats off to these powerful little guys. They're freakin' adorable. Wish I could have one!
Actually the Blue Dragon nudibranch is a Pteraeolidia ianthina. They are nicknamed that because of their resemblance to Chinese Dragons.
The nudibranch posted here is Glaucus atlanticus which is also mistaken for Glaucilla marginata as they are closley related.
thank god for all these post of the mis-identification of this species...insanity
SO can we see an adult or is this an adult.Doesn't appear large enough to eat a man of war.Where can I learn more? thanks and p.s Just because you like an creature that does NOT give you a right to take one from its home and keep for your own selfish pleasure I find alot of people cute but I have never once thought of taking them to OWN as my property Go and see them in THEIR home, enjoy the beauty and think of preserving their environment,you will be preserving yourself as you do.
Awesome site, truley beautifull beautifull and anusual creatures. Thanks for doing this.
Yeah! thanks for doing this. A M A Z I N G
WONDERFUL CREATURE
Thats an awesome little dude!! Would love to see more PLEASE keep posting!!
I love how everyone believes this, this picture has been on the internet for over 2 years. It's completely fake, its just really good 3d editing, don't be fooled so easily. Also the reason you won't see more is because it doesn't exist, if it was real it would have been on discovery, not some random website.
It's okay Armand, sometimes nature really is unbelievable but in this case - believe it! If you had done a little research you'd have seen that I wasn't making this up. Though I'm glad you consider this a "random website" even though you happen to be taking quite some time to visit it and leave a comment. All the best.
My life has jurt been shaken to the core. I hate snails. They terrify me to the core. Some people its spiders or snakes or scorpions or something else horrible begining with s. But for me its snails. Now picture it please as i was quite happily stumbling my way through the internet when i come across this little guy. I think hes quite cute. He looks like a little lizard to me. I dont really understand him so i read the little caption to find he is a FUCKING EVOLVED SNAIL!!!!! ERRRGH GOD. WHAT THE HELL! No. This was like meeting a guy in a bar (or a chick) and finding out hes a chick (or a guy) (im a gal you see but just so you guys get it). So now im stuck in some strange limbo. I like this little guy but my broken phobia ridden mind is simply disgusted with this thought. What do i do people? Next time i see a common all garden snail i will be just as repulsed and just as geared to run as fast as i can despite the fact it can only move around half a mile an hour and the only threat it poses is the odd lug worm. But when this strange erratic fear of mine occurs k will know in the back of my mind that i fell for this chaeasmatic little guy. Im a hypocrite and my world has just been shook to the core. Dear god. What am i meant to think now
That is an amazing sea slug. Definitely one of the most beautiful animals I have ever seen. Perfect first choice for an animal of the week.
:o
:)
awesome!!
I love your site! It's a much more professional, focused approach to the animal blog I have at https://AnimalsOurEverything.wordpress.com.
I hope you'll stop by some time. Meanwhile, congrats on your UCLA graduation! Keep up the great blogging! Janet
Wow wjat interesting little creatures :)
Does it breathe out fire? :D
It looks too good to believe :)
amazing stuff!
Nature is so beautiful
Bah! Avatar!!!
Specifically to Armand:
My ex husband and I took a walk on the beach one morning after a storm about 20 years ago. We lived in South Florida (Boca Raton, specifically). We noticed little turqouise and midnight blue lumps on the beach. I picked one up (they were quite small - none any larger than one of my fingernails). When I added water to my palm, they spread out like a flower. They were EXACTLY what you see in these photos. I have to believe that you are kidding with your "disbelieving" comment since it is very easy to verify these are actual creatures and not something photo shopped. Do a little homework before you start throwing stones or making silly assumptions.
So excited to find more people who appreciate the lowly nudibranch! This one is especially beautiful. Love the site!
i want one!!! :DDD
How big can these little guys get?
I love nudibrank of the week! Im studying marine bio, and this is legit my favorite organism! YOU GO GLEN COCO!
No one else thinks those look photoshopped?
Wow! Really cool!
We found one at Ka'a'awa Beach on the north shore of O'ahu in Hawaii. Here is a link to the picture http://www.jalsee808.com/Other/Miscellaneous-2/i-M27DbcJ/0/M/SeaCreature101211-1-M.jpg
And I just took the picture yesterday, so I know they are real... All I did was crop it, because it was the size of my thumb nail.
What amazing little creatures. Nature is truly filled with all sorts of wonders!
Anyone else think those nudibranches look a lot like some of the dragons in How To Train Your Dragon? Lol. Very cool
I found one of these on the beach at Mazeppa Bay on the South African coast. This was 1988 - photoshop and 3D weren't around then, so I didn't have anything to blame these guys on, especially since they were in front of my eyes. Lovely to know what they are. And to Armand and other disbelievers: There are more things in Heaven and Earth than you have dreamt of - and truth really is stranger than fiction. Don't limit your world to the limits of your own imagination - go out and find what is out there - it'll blow your mind. CarlyB you are to be congratulated on a lovely site, fun, interesting, intriguing - Thank you for taking the time to put it together. I hope you keep going on the nudubranch Monday thing too - that's about 3000 Mondays you say? Should last you a while! I look forward to each one!
Are those Blue Dragon real?
We just found one today swimming around at Bumboras
Norfolk Island , South Pacific.
Just an amazingly beautiful creature.
I LOVE NUDIBRANCHS!
They're my favourite animal and I've never even seen one in real life.
I randomly stumbled upon your site and am so excited to see all your posts!
This is awesome!
Kat
OMG that is the coolest animal ever! im gunna change my fave animal status to this, and ask for one in my aquarim!
This is my next tattoo!
BREATH TAKING!
I have never seen such creatures, are so beautiful that seem fake. :-)
Greetings
I forget the name of it, but has anyone ever has that sushi roll with these things on top? I normally throw them away because I don't like the taste but they make the food look so pretty! These little things are the best!
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