::Glaucus atlanticus::
...exerted from quest thread...
Species: Glaucus atlanticus
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: GLAUCIDAE
Biology/Anatomy: "The two nudibranchs feed almost exclusively on Physalia; it appears that they are able to select the most venomous of Physalia's stinging nematocysts for their own use. Like most aeolids, they store the nematocysts in special sacs (cnidosacs) at the tip of their cerata .
There are a number of reports in Australia of kids engaged in "Bluebottle" fights - where they throw stranded Physalia at each other - being badly stung by inadvertently playing with Glaucus and Glaucilla, both of which, by concentrating the most venomous of Physalia's nematocysts, are much more deadly.
Another interesting feature of the two species is their colouration. They both exhibit a textbook example of colour countershading. Their foot and undersides of the cerata, (which because they float upside down is effectively their dorsal surface), is blue or blue and white which helps to camouflage them from predation (sea birds) from above. Their true dorsal surface, which faces down in the water, is silvery grey to effectively camouflage them from fish looking up from below."
They do all that...and they are only about 4cm long!
4laugh
Behavior: Interestingly enough, there is not much known about these sea slugs. They usually live pretty far out in the ocean and only come towards land by accident. These sea slugs tend to "go with the flow" of the ocean currents, spending their life floating upside down in the water, partially bouyed by a gas bubble in their stomachs. They live in tight, highly organized groups, usually around Portuguese Men-o-War.
Feeding Patterns: I love these little guys. They are "carnivourous", per say. They actually eat and feed off of Men-o-War!!! I love it!
A very good link, has the most information that I could find:
http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=glauatla
A view of the top, the bottom is a silver-gray.
