Glaucus atlanticus
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: AEOLIDINA
Family: Glaucidae
I found these 2 nudibranches washed up on Surfers Paradise Beach in Queensland Australia. The larger one is about 35 mm in length. Glaucus atlanticus are often washed up on beaches along with Physalia Jellyfish (a.k.a Portuguese Man Of War or Bluebottle Jellyfish). The reason for this is that Glaucus feed on Physalia and are also at the mercy of the ocean currents and winds.
Glaucus feed almost exclusively on Physalia, and it appears that they are able to select the MOST venomous of Physalia's stinging cells (nematocysts) for their own use. They store the nematocysts in special sacs (cnidosacs) at the tip of their cerata. (Cerata are the fan-like appendages.) So, NEVER touch these guys!!
Dzwjedziak, Rossana Henriques, and 81 other people added this photo to their favorites.
View 13 more comments
Lookfar 78 months ago | reply
I didn't know they were nudibranchs - the ones I've seen diving are much larger.
First Contact 78 months ago | reply
yeeerrhk
LJWDevon 78 months ago | reply
Wow they're brilliant - wonderful photo of them!
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kentlim26 78 months ago | reply
this look like those people stick tattoo. picture design. this is very interesting to me!!
pierre pouliquin 75 months ago | reply
Did you contribute to wikipedia?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaucus_atlanticus
tarotastic 75 months ago | reply
Pierre: No, I didn't specifically!! But... I'm very happy for such an excellent resource as Wikipedia to be using my pictures. Thanks for letting me know though!!
antonious (www.anthonyaphoto.com) 75 months ago | reply
WOW!!
Your work has inspired me!!
You are INVITED to post it in...
The Nature Group
pierre pouliquin 75 months ago | reply
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wiccked 73 months ago | reply
This is a very cool photos of these little creatures!!
I have one too, so after seeing yours I clicked the tag link to see who else has them. They're really odd looking little things!
citlali* 72 months ago | reply
THese are amazing, so beautiful = ]
Will Canel 67 months ago | reply
i want one.
Marzua [deleted] 66 months ago | reply
Very nice!!
Uncle Foto 66 months ago | reply
Wow : Fantastic !!
(Seen from Explore / Interestingness / January 10 2007)
adlin 66 months ago | reply
they look like frickn aliens, just fantastic. beautiful animals...hard to believe they are from this planet
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Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
jordsta 64 months ago | reply
Congrats! This photo has been featured on Wikipedia!
I actually live on the Gold Coast, never have I ever seen such a strange, small creature like that...
Marnua (outline) [deleted] 63 months ago | reply
Beautiful!!
MISH1972 51 months ago | reply
awesome!!!! Now I know I want to see all Australia has to offer.
Lisa Binka 50 months ago | reply
lol, i found one of these when i was about 10. i didn't know what it was, so i picked it up, however i didn't get stung by it. i am glad they eat man of war, i got stung by one of those once, that hurt a lot.
rockwalski 50 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Tide Pool Photography, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
rockwalski 50 months ago | reply
How did you get the white backdrop--photoshop??