Glaucus Atlanticus

Glaucus atlanticus is a sea slug, a pelagic nudibranch. At the taxonomic level it is a mollusc of the Gastropoda class, in the family Glaucidae and the only species of the genus Glaucus.

Usually, they live in the Atlantic Ocean, although specimens have been found in all oceans. It prefers mainly temperate and tropical waters, which is why its sighting is more frequent in Mozambique and South African waters.

Its camouflage is one of its best adaptations to survive

The sea swallow inhabits the shallowest part of the water, which is the most dangerous area for a prey. In the part seen from the sky they are almost invisible, because their bright blue color camouflages them with the sea, being exactly the same color as it and therefore, avoiding being seen by birds. At the bottom they are silver, achieving the same mimicry effect so that fish do not see them. On the back it has two lines of a deeper blue that go through its body to the tip of its tail. In between, there is a thicker one that is lighter blue color (in some specimens it is the same color as the rest of its body).

The sea swallow has a hydroskeleton that, as its name indicates, is a liquid skeleton that supports its body. In addition, they have a gas bubble in their stomach that allows them to always stay afloat. Usually, they measure between 3 and 4 cm in length. They have 6 limbs that branch into the so-called “cerata”. The front ones are usually thicker than the rear ones.

It takes advantage of the stinging cells from jellyfish and anemones it eats

They mainly feed on jellyfish and hydrozoans such as the Portuguese Caravel (Physalia physalis) or the “Velella” (Velella velella). Like many nudibranchs, they take advantage of the stinging cells (nematocysts) and accumulate them in the cerata as protection against predators.

Like the rest of the nudibranchs, the sea swallow is hermaphrodite. They alternate their male and female reproductive systems. They present on their left side a hole through which a protuberance comes out, the penis, with a curved shape and white color that can extend more than 60 mm, to avoid their arms, which make it difficult to approach their partner.

Despite their appearance, they are relatively dangerous. Although it is unlikely to suffer a sting from these animals since they live in the open sea at the mercy of the wind, waves and marine currents. However, sometimes climatic conditions can bring them closer to the coast. Their predatory instincts make them territorial, and numerous cases of cannibalism have been seen especially when food is scarce or when they are found in large numbers.

Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777

Overview

This is a bluish-purple nudibranch with a white underside. It resembles most nudibranchs. The elongated, flattened body is up to 3 cm long. The papillae (up to 84 in number) are placed in four or three pairs of clusters (Glaucus atlanticus). It lives in the pleuston of all oceans.

Taxonomic Description

The naked body is elongate and flat. The head is small and blunt. It has a pair of small oral tentacles near the mouth and a pair of extremely small rhinophores on the dorsal side. There are four or three pairs of clusters of papillae (cerata) placed on peduncles on the lateral side of the body. The papillae are placed in a single row (uniseriate), their may be 84 in total. The genital pore is on the ventral side at the right; the renal pore is on the right dorsal side between the first and second cluster of papillae; the anus is dorso-laterally at the right between the second and third pair of papillae. The penis is armed with a chitinous spine. The foot is flat and slender, at the ventral side; the metapodium is long. The body is deep bluish-purple ventrally (= upperside in living animals) the dorsal side is silvery white. The radula formula is 0-1-0 (Glaucus atlanticus radula).

Body length up to 43 mm.

Reproduction

This species is hermaphroditic. The eggs are 60-75 µm wide and 75-97 µm long. Eggs are laid in straight strings up to 17.5 mm long. At 19°C, division of the eggs starts after some hours. After 48-60 hours a trochophore is formed and after three days a veliger with larval shell (first ovoid, is coiled at the day 11 after hatching) leaves the egg string.

Ecology

This species is carnivorous and lives in the pleuston where it feeds on Velella, Porpita and Physalia. The nematocysts of Physalia pass unharmed through the digestive system and are used as defence system in the papillae, this is an example of oplophagia (Donati and Porfirio (1986).

Practical Importance

As this species can use the stinging nematocysts of its prey animals it can be harmful to humans.

Distribution

This species occurs in the tropical waters of all oceans, see the Glaucus atlanticus map.