These “ butterflies of the ocean ” are beautiful , deadly , and strange .
1. THERE ARE MORE THAN 3000 SPECIES.
Bernard Picton , Wikimedia Commons// CC BY - SA 4.0
The bizarre , beautiful ocean slugs promise nudibranchs can be found in maritime environs all over the human race . Like orchids , nudibranchs vary widely in color and organisation . Some fun the distinctive slug shape ; others look like bottle brushes , internal organs , orChristmas ornaments .
2. THEY’RE NOT FOR EATING.
Sylke Rohrlach , Wikimedia Commons// CC BY - SA 2.0
Nudibranch expert Karen Cheney calls the slug the “ butterfly of the ocean , ” both for their Technicolor visual aspect and theirintense perniciousness . Like the shiny extension of butterflies , nudibranchs ’ loud colouration is a warning sign to potential predators that the slugs are not worth the infliction . Still , only a few species present much of a threat to humans . Anyone who grab theblue dragon(Glaucus atlanticus ) , image above , will end up with a fistful of regret .
3. THEY’RE COLORBLIND.
Jerry Kirkhart , Wikimedia Commons// CC BY 2.0
In an O. Henry - panache twist , a sea slug will never see its own richness . Unlike the peeper of their terrestrial cousins , the eyes of ocean slugs are super crude and probable only detectlight and morose . Nudibranchs do most of their navigating by fragrance , which they take in through the feather - likerhinophoreson their heads .
4. SOME NUDIBRANCHS RUN ON GREEN ENERGY.
Karen N. Pelletreau et al . ,Wikimedia Commons// mil BY 4.0
Some nudibranch species have develop the plant - like ability to photosynthesize , or exist off sunshine . TheElysia chloroticashown here lift photosynthesizing cubicle and factor from the algae it eat up . When there ’s no algae to be found , the sluggard can run entirely on solar power .
5. THEY CAN PLAY BOTH PARTS.
Leonard Clifford , Wikimedia Commons// CC BY 2.0
Like most snails and slugs , nudibranch are hermaphroditic , which really lets them make the most of each mating coming upon . Two slug line up facing in polar directions , then plug their penises into each other , giving and receive spermatozoon at the same prison term .
6. THEIR GLORY IS SHORT-LIVED.
Nudibranch lifetime motley by species , but none populate to be more than a year old .
7. SOME ARE REALLY, REALLY CUTE.
Crawl_Ray , Flickr// CC BY - ND 2.0
The “ sea bunny ” nudibranchJorunna parvatook the cyberspace by stormlast summer , and it ’s wanton to see why .
