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Glaucus atlanticus Glaucus atlanticus Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda (unranked): clade Heterobranchia informal group Opisthobranchia clade Nudipleura clade Nudibranchia clade Dexiarchia clade Cladobranchia clade Aeolidida Superfamily: Aeolidioidea Family: Glaucidae Genus: Glaucus Forster, 1777 Species: G. atlanticus Binomial name Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777 Glaucus atlanticus (common names sea swallow, blue glaucus, blue sea slug and blue ocean slug) is a species of medium-sized blue sea slug, a pelagic aeolid nudibranch, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Glaucidae. This is the only species in the genus Glaucus,[1] but is closely related to Glaucilla marginata, another member of the family Glaucidae. Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Life history and behavior 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 External links // Description The normal size of this species is between 5 and 8 cm in length. It is silvery grey on its dorsal side and dark and pale blue ventrally. It has dark blue stripes along the edge of its foot. It has a tapering body which is flattened and has six appendages which branch out into rayed cerata.[2]:42-43 Distribution and habitat This nudibranch is pelagic, and is distributed throughout the world's oceans, in temperate and tropical waters. Regions where this slug is found include the East and South Coast of South Africa, European waters and Mozambique.[3] This species floats upside down on the surface tension of the ocean. Life history and behavior G. atlanticus preys on other larger pelagic organisms: the dangerously venomous Portuguese Man o' War Physalia physalis; the by-the-wind-sailor Velella velella; the blue button Porpita porpita; and the violet snail, Janthina janthina. 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 (cnidosacs), on the tip of their cerata, the thin feather-like "fingers" on its body.[4] Because Glaucus stores the venom, it can produce a more powerful and deadly sting than the Man o' War upon which it feeds. With the aid of a gas-filled sac in its stomach, G. atlanticus floats at the surface. Due to the location of the gas sac the sea swallow floats upside down. The dorsal surface, actually the foot and underside, has either a blue or blue-white coloration. The true dorsal surface is completely silver-grey. This coloration is an example of counter-shading, which helps protect it from predators from below, sides and above. Scientists have often argued over whether G. atlanticus moves on its own or depends on wind for locomotion.[citation needed] Glaucus is, like most sea slugs, a hermaphrodite, containing both male and female reproductive organs. Unlike most nudibranchs, which mate with their right sides facing, sea swallows mate with ventral sides facing[5]. After mating, both animals produce egg strings. Footnotes ^ Lalli, Carol M. & Gilmer, Ronald W. (1989). Pelagic snails: the biology of holoplanktonic gastropod mollusks. Stanford University Press. ISBN 0804714908, ISBN 9780804714907. Ltd preview in Google Books. page 224. Accessed on 13 Jan 2010. ^ Piper, R. (2007). ^ Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777. World Register of Marine Species, accessed 3 April 2010. ^ Glaucus atlanticus factsheet ^ Debelius & Kuiter 2007 References Debelius, H. & Kuiter, Rudie Hermann. (2007). Nudibranchs of the world. IKAN-Unterwasserarchiv. ISBN 3939767069, ISBN 9783939767060. Piper, Ross. (2007) Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 0313339228, ISBN 9780313339226. Valdés, Ágel. (2008). "Systematics of Pelagic Aeolid Nudibranchs Of The Family Glaucidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda)". Bulletin of Marine Science 75 (3): 381–389. November 2003. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/umrsmas/bullmar/2004/00000075/00000003/art00003. Retrieved 2008-03-04.  "Sea Slug Forum Fact sheet on "Glaucus atlanticus"". Australian Museum, Sydney. http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=glauatla. Retrieved 13 Jan 2010.  External links Wikispecies has information related to: Glaucidae Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Glaucus atlanticus Sea Slug Forum Glaucus atlanticus at the Encyclopedia of Life