Glaucus atlanticus: taxon details and analytics
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Mollusca
- Class
- Gastropoda
- Order
- Nudibranchia
- Family
- Glaucidae
- Genus
- Glaucus
- Species
- Glaucus atlanticus
- Scientific Name
- Glaucus atlanticus
Summary description from Wikipedia:
Glaucus atlanticus
Glaucus atlanticus (common names include the blue sea dragon, sea swallow, blue angel, blue glaucus, dragon slug, blue dragon, blue sea slug, and blue ocean slug) is a species of sea slug in the family Glaucidae.
These sea slugs live in the pelagic zone (open ocean), where they float upside-down by using the surface tension of the water to stay afloat. In addition, they have a gas bubble in their stomach that makes it easier for them to float. They are carried along by the winds and ocean currents. G. atlanticus makes use of countershading; the blue side of their bodies faces upwards, blending in with the blue of the water. The silver/grey dorsal side of the sea slug faces downwards, blending in with the sunlight shining through the ocean's surface when viewed from below the surface of the water.
G. atlanticus feeds on other pelagic creatures, including the Portuguese man o' war and other venomous siphonophores. This sea slug stores stinging nematocysts from the siphonophores within its own tissues as defence against predators. Humans handling the slug may receive a very painful and potentially dangerous sting.
...Glaucus atlanticus in languages:
- Czech
- glaukus atlantský
- English
- Blue Angel
- English
- Sea Swallow
- English
- Blue Sea Slug
- English
- Blue Sea Dragon
- English
- Blue Glaucus
- English
- Blue Ocean Slug
- English
- Blue Dragon Sea Slug
- French
- Dragon bleu pélagique
- Japanese
- アオミノウミウシ
- Portuguese
- Dragão-Azul
- Thai
- ทากทะเลสีน้ำเงิน
Images from inaturalist.org observations:
We recommend you sign up for this excellent, free service.




















































































































































