Don't usually do this but the Wikipedia Picture of the Day is just too cool.
Glaucus atlanticus
Info from Wikipedia: These two Glaucus atlanticus, a species of nudibranch, were washed up on Surfers Paradise Beach in Queensland, Australia. The larger one is about 35 mm (1.4 in) in length. G. atlanticus preys on the Portuguese Man o' War and other surface-dwelling sea animals. Occasionally Glaucus will feed on others of its kind.
This guy looks like a ship from Star Trek... or so I would imagine if I ever watched that kind of show... The fact that they prey on Portugese Man of Wars makes them that much cooler. The name "sea slug" most certainly does not do this piece of real-life science fiction justice.
Thanks to Josh Attenberg for the heads up.
Life Science
Comments
I usually check out the Wikipedia pic of the day in the morning before I go to work. I took a look at the pic of Glaucus this morning and immediately made it my desktop wallpaper, such a great picture. There needs to be a Hollywood ovie about a scientist turning these things into giant, city-smashing mutants.
Posted by: Justin Wagner | March 4, 2008 2:49 PM
Glaucus rocks! And the little one is surprisingly cute.
Posted by: Ed Yong | March 4, 2008 5:35 PM