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Date Published: 11/04/2023

ARCHIVED - Mystical blue sea dragons discovered along Alicante coast for the first time in 300 years

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While they may be beautiful, the sea slugs sighted on beaches in Orihuela, Torrevieja and Guardamar can inflict a painful sting

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Mystical blue sea dragons discovered along Alicante coast for the first time in 300 years

A number of stunning blue sea dragons, (Glaucus atlanticus), also known as sea slugs, have been sighted along the coast of Alicante for the first time in 300 years.

Despite being stunning to look at, these vividly-coloured water creatures pack a punch and can inflict a painful sting. Swimmers are rarely aware of their presence until they are stung as their unique colour and their ability to float upside down on the surface of the water allows them to camouflage themselves in the sea.

Six of the mystical-looking molluscs, about 3 cm long, were discovered at La Mata beach in Torrevieja, La Roqueta beach in Guardamar del Segura and in the cove of Las Estacas, Orihuela. The last recorded sighting in Spanish waters was in 1705 and recorded by botanist Johann Philipp Breyne.

"It is an extraordinary finding that increases the mystery surrounding the presence of this small marine invertebrate on our coasts", said Juan Antonio Pujol, Raquel López Esclápez and Nicolás Ubero from the Knowledge Transfer Group 'Biodiversity and Applied Zoology' of Murcia University.

Although the specimens were found alive, they ended up dying a few hours later, and the trio of researchers has published their findings in the scientific journals Quercus and Mediterranean Marine Science.

They consider that the findings "constitute the first record of Glaucus atlanticus on the coast of the Iberian Peninsula, and the first georeferenced record in the Mediterranean Sea in three centuries".

"After such a long time, their presence here, more linked to warmer waters, is incidental, due to the confluence of meteorological and oceanic factors, as has happened with other Atlantic species such as the Portuguese Caravel.

"Given the process of tropicalisation that is taking place in the Mediterranean Sea, it would not be surprising if new specimens were soon to be sighted, as their prey includes common inhabitants of the Mediterranean such as caravel," the researchers claim.

It's precisely the blue sea dragon's diet that gives these creatures such a painful sting. The sea slug stores its prey's stinging cells, known as cnidocytes, in sacs and feeds on species like the poisonous Portuguese man of war.

The blue dragons then employ those deadly cells to defend themselves against attackers, with people sometimes getting caught in the crossfire.

Image 1: Archive

Image 2: Murcia University

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