"Now I can look at you in peace; I don’t eat you anymore."
/Franz Kafka/
2012. június 10., vasárnap
2012. június 8., péntek
God's Amazing Creatures #1
The Glaucus Atlanticus
The Glaucus Atlanticus Sea Slug is as unusual as its appearance suggests
- this thing is honestly pretty weird, but we can forgive it since it
is so breath-taking.
These creatures are three centimeters long and predominantly colored
with silver and blue tints. They are found in tropical waters,
specifically those off of the East and South Coast of South Africa, European waters, the east coast of Australia and Mozambique.
With the aid of a gas-filled sac in its stomach, Glaucus atlanticus floats at the surface. Due to the location of the gas sac the sea swallow floats upside down.
G. atlanticus preys on other, larger pelagic organisms: the dangerously venomous Portuguese Man o' War Physalia physalis.Occasionally, individual Glaucus become cannibals given the opportunity.
G. atlanticus is able to feed on P. physalis due to its immunity to the venomous nematocysts.
The slug consumes the entire organism and appears to select and store
the most venomous nematocysts for its own use. The venom is collected in
specialized sacs, on the tip of their cerata, the thin feather-like "fingers" on its body. Because Glaucus stores the venom, it can produce a more powerful and deadly sting than the Man o' War upon which it feeds.
