Are there blue dragons in Hawaii?
Blue dragons These curious little creatures are known as Glaucus atlanticus and are quite beautiful. They are a sea slug that are rarely seen except during periods of on-shore winds which bring them in.
Why are nudibranchs called nudibranchs?
Nudibranchs, commonly known as sea slugs, are a group of shell-less marine molluscs. Their name means ‘naked gill’, referring to the breathing apparatus on the outside of their soft bodies.
How big do nudibranchs get?
Generally oblong in shape, nudibranchs can be thick or flattened, long or short, ornately colored or drab to match their surroundings. They can grow as small as 0.25 inches or as large as 12 inches long.
What eats a blue glaucus?
Few studies regarding this aspect of Blue Glaucus life have been conducted, though loggerhead sea turtles may be one natural predator. A study on this species found that 42% of their stomachs contained remnants of blue dragons.
Can you touch blue glaucus?
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.
How poisonous is a nudibranch?
Despite the unsavory or toxic taste they can present to their non-human predators, most nudibranchs are harmless to humans, except those like Glaucus atlanticus which consumes nematocytes and so may consider you a predator and sting.
Can you eat a nudibranch?
Some species eat other nudibranchs, as well as nudibranchs of their own species! This can be done with actual teeth or with digestive enzymes. Some humans actually eat nudibranchs. Chileans and some islanders in Russia and Alaska roast or boil sea slugs and sometimes eat them raw.
Can you eat nudibranch?
What do you do when you get stung by a Blue Glaucus?
As Glaucus gets its stings from the Blue Bottles, whatever works for Blue Bottle stings is the best treatment. Unfortunately treatments for Blue Bottle stings seem to come in and out of fashion. So you should check with your doctor or perhaps a local Lifesaving Club for advice on Blue Bottle stings and follow that.
What happens if a blue dragon stings you?
The blue dragon stores the man o’ war’s stinging nematocysts within its finger-like appendages, making itself equally venomous to predators. One sting from this little guy can lead to nausea, pain, vomiting, acute allergic contact dermatitis, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Can I eat a nudibranch?