the strangest thing....

my brother and i found one of these guys floating in a rockpool the other day, looking for all the world like a little blue chinese dragon. i'd never seen anything like it and i had absolutely no idea what it was at first. but i applied my considerable (ahem) natural history talents and came up with an answer - turns out it IS a blue dragon, a pelagic sea slug which floats about the ocean on its back (that's it's belly and foot you're looking at) feeding on blue bottles. so very cool, is it not?

more here:
www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=glauatla

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Comments

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(187 comments)

dickuhne says:

Yow!
how coooool
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

the doubtful guest says:

wow, speedy dick.
glad you like it!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

dickuhne says:

must work this into the family crest somehow..
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

alwaysawake says:

i thought it was some kinda nudibranch
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

alwaysawake says:

oh, yeah, so says your tag. oops.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Liz AM says:

wow! there is a sea slug forum!! : D
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

frisky_flickrfiend says:

what an unique discovery! thanks for sharing!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

carnun says:

Too cool! And too beautiful!

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Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

wackocatho says:

whoa... that's amazing! you've made it to explore with this one too!! :)
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Lean (inkel) says:

Beautiful colors has this ugly (?) thing! :P
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Stevie Skowron says:

Very cool... incredible colours...
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

tumblingmirth [deleted] says:

Very unique - spectacular in fact!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Ronán says:

Amazing - looks so unlikely that you figure it has to be real!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Yolande... says:

Fantastic! Seen in Explore. You should post it in lots of nature groups, it deserves lots of views.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

oli bryant says:

schweet
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Donina says:

fabulous colours :-) how big was it LK? if i had one at home, would it eat my bird?
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

10centpiece says:

Unreal, I want one for a fish. Looks like you could take him for a walk down the park.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

strangejourney says:

that's one of the freakiest things i've ever seen. looks like a alien spaceship to me.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

RemyOmar says:

that is just amazing!

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Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

VickerMonkee says:

Wicked looking thing!

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Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Archer's Eye says:

exquisite!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

snowy4052002 says:

Please add your Beautiful Photo to:
Beauty is in the *Eye* of the Beholder!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

nj dodge says:

That's amazing and is a really nice shot of it.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

LyndaC says:

That is seriously very cool LOL, wow, never seen that before. It doesn't look very big, would love to know the dimensions.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

the doubtful guest says:

wow! thanks all! i'm stoked that so many people thought it was as fascinating as i did.

blue dragons are part of a whole floating community of weird animals. i did get pictures of the other creatures, which i will post sometime, but none of them are quite as cool as this guy.

to answer the dimension question, these guys were little, 3 or 4cms long. definitely not threat to your wee yellow bird, donina.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

science says:

I'm very excited by that seaslug forum.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Johny Day says:

Wow , I never seen this in a book or anywhere else , very cool and very beautiful
Fav++

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Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Double Exposure1 says:

Think about all the sea life that hasn't even been identified yet. Thanks for the information on one that has been identified, but which I didn't learn about till just now. Amazing animal and thank you for sharing both information and the photo.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

the doubtful guest says:

you're right, it would make a fabulous brooch.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

☞Uh … Bob☜ says:

Wow! Damn, I miss living near the ocean.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

its mike says:

that is super funky, looks like something from a videogame. nice shot!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

alwaysawake says:

ok, i'm going to butt in one more time and say i've seen these funny things (in various shapes, sizes and colours) a few times swimming around while scuba diving in northern waters and they're amazing. and, i think, they EAT poison. yep.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Edgar Thissen says:

Amazing creature, just wonderful!

I really like your animal photo!
You are invited to post this photo to Spectacular Animals, invite only
www.flickr.com/groups/spectacular_animals/
Please add the tag SpecAnimal to your photo
Please include a link to the photo when applying for group membership.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

AceTrace says:

Bizarre creature - never seen one of these before!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

bansidhe says:

Another one of these showed up recently on Flickr. The photo was taken by tarotastic and entitled Nudibranch. They identified it as:
Glaucus atlanticus
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Glaucidae
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Acrophobic says:

enigmatic specimen
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

G0Da says:

A very interesting find, Thank you so much for sharing.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

HerbOc says:

Cool! I've never seen anything like it either. Great photo!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

DNL+ says:

w00t!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

trembly1 says:

Fascinating - where did you find this guy? Nice to be reminded that the world can be a surprising and beautiful place :o)
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

peter.ca says:

Great shot !

Seen on the explore page.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

maxi millipede says:

That is the most amazing thing! I've always wanted to see one, myself.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

klocean says:

That is absolutely fascinating. I love learning new things...thanks!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Qamaria says:

No comment it is similar i had seen before
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

sgsisk says:

Very pretty slug! I can't believe I said that a slug was pretty. What's with nie_nie7142 with "no comment" ?
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Cheekybikerboy says:

That is amazing and I've never seen anything like it!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

JENRIKS says:

Wicked... Nature still can impress mankind with it's beauty, doesn't it?
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

robert_goulet says:

awesome
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

happicamper.geo says:

how neat, who knew!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

oldredhat says:

Wow is the word.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

~Sage~ says:

Great capture! So glad you included the reference too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This image has been invited for submission at the Animal Kingdom group!
The Animal Kingdom group allows for only the finest images of creatures to be submitted.By invite only; please read rules! Add tag: AnimalKingdomElite
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

ol' snappa says:

Ain't nature wonderful!!......... Seriously, this is amazing.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Dog Is Love says:

Very beautiful!!! I've never seen a creature like this, either. Thanks for sharing :)
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Rudbeckia says:

What a crazy looking critter. Great capture.

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Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

futurowoman says:

that is fascinating! i'm so glad you had your camera :) thanks for sharing!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

smantrom says:

Amazing!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

nhanhauzinha says:

This is a very exotic animal, never seen this before, did someone find the real name of him? Congratulations, this is very different!!!!

Congratulations!
Your photo has been nominated as "Superb Masterpiece"
You are invited to add your wonderful picture to Superb Masterpiece Group
Please read the Group Rules and tag your photo SuperbMasterpiece
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

DoRonRon:-)) Busy says:

WOW!! That sure is a strange creature. I have seen some weird things washed up on the beach before, but nothing as bizarre as this!! Great capture!!

I think this photo is a

Please add your photo to www.flickr.com/groups/supershot/
After you add it to the group pool, please tag this photo as a SuperShot
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Badkitti says:

wow!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

irinsky says:

WOW!!!!! My god!!!! How amazing!!!! i would have never thought anything like that could possible ever exist! Was it alive??? I hope so!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

jasperroz says:

Wow! This is very cool.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

SkyShaper says:

call Darwin, quick!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

_McConnell_ says:

wow really cool
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

The Roaming Radiographer says:

I am sure that I read somewhere that they can deliver a nasty sting from thos tentacles
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

melanie.phung says:

I just really like the word "nudibranch" :) Congrats on making Explore.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

redmeg8 says:

Holy cow, that is incredible!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

scovophoto says:

That is the coolest new thing I've ever seen.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Kurisu says:

I've seen a LOT of nudibranchs, and I still thought something was fake or altered here. Even more amazing that its real.

Wow.
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

Evazan [deleted] says:

Thats insane looking!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

maxi millipede says:

I found some similar ones at this site:
www.imagequest3d.com/cgi-bin/ImageFolio4/imag eFolio.cgi?a...
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

lbtriathlete says:

Thanks for sharing this incredible picture! Its awesome!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

nehctapo says:

A man-of-war slug, very nice and not very common
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

con T de Tinoco [deleted] says:

uffffffff que animal tan raro!!!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

el DVD says:

Que bonito

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Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

punkrockscience says:

This is one of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen. Much love!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

yeled says:

one cool note about sea slugs i remember from high school -

they breath through their arse

(ie. cloaca)
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

mdt1960 says:

Just when I think nothing can surprise me... What a find! I wouldn't mind breathing through me arse if I could look that good!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

drift-wood says:

well i am a little late, but he is fabulous! just ace.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

<danielle> says:

wow.....never ever seen or heard of before....cool...thanks girl!
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

bachelorette says:

That's incredible! I didn't know they could float on to shore.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

poluknic says:

Excellent colour.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Babydoll102 says:

absolutley beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

doggo says:

Ooh, eet ees fan-tastical! Imagine the sushi...
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Lord Manley says:

Wow!
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

dan_haugh says:

YAHOOOO OH WOOOOWWWEEEEE, i ate a couple of those on my plate this Morning and they were delicihos. NOw I'll tell you- great picture Wow really cool LOL. Sorry, this is really neat! You should get credit for discovering this mythical beast and then presto your a scientist!!! Chow!
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

anya_galkina says:

I want to be a blue dragon slug.

(But not if some jacked-up monkey is going to eat me).
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

imagehost says:

looks delicious
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

muaddib420 says:

sushi?
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

mosesfrancis says:

Has been posted at www.flickrville.com
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Tendai says:

very neat picture. Just reminds that nature always has a few tricks up it's sleeve.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

rachnbobs says:

Made it into the top Reddit list - nice one doubtful!
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

gert5 says:

Put it on Wikipedia! They don't have a picture of one of these. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaucus_atlanticus
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

billyjoelntrdame says:

egads
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

al.wong says:

wow, that's pretty sick :D
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

radialmonster says:

coolness
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

mociman says:

it is like one of the monster in final fantasy video game..
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

hatter10_6 says:

It's pretty.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

.francisca. says:

wow, what an amazing 'lil fellow :D
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

davechiu says:

Wow. That's crazy. Now could you help me figure out what this is?

Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

sfgirl28 says:

Wow! How neat to have seen this in person!
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

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