Species within ecosystem are intrinsically linked . Whether they clock the birth of their offspring with thesea iceor have evolved to live aboardanother organism , these connexion can be found sentence and time again in nature . Now , on a beach on North Padre Island off the glide of Texas , yet another example has appeared in the form of tiny blue dragon , and experts are warning mass not to touch on them .
These puritanical dragons are also know as blue glaucus ( Glaucus atlanticus ) , asea slugand a species of nudibranch that experience in the open ocean . While they might look impressive – and indeed they are – these are tiny dragons , seldom measure more than 3 cm long ( 1.2 inch ) . However , do n’t be take in , they have a pang stronger than a Portuguese humans o ’ state of war .
TheHarte Research Institute for Gulf Of Mexico Studiesshared imageson theirFacebook pagethis weekof both man type O ' war and blue dragons that had fellate onto the beach on North Padre Island in strong malarky . The Institute call this arriver the “ blue undulation ” and expects more such discoveries as the weather change .
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These bright juicy creatures can be found on the surface of the Atlantic , Pacific , and Indian Oceans in temperate water , and have even been realise swim in theGreat Pacific Garbage Patch . The midget critter utilize especial sacs on their breadbasket to hold atmosphere to keep themselves afloat .
While they might be little they do have a few fast one up their tiny sleeve . The nudibranchs feed on thePortuguese man o ’ war . While the venom of this species is excruciatingly painful , allot toNOAAit is seldom mortal . But unlike mankind , the blue dragons are resistant to thetoxinswithin the man o ' state of war . or else , the blue-blooded glaucus can siphon off the sting cells from the siphonophore , which are called nematocysts , and store them itself within the ruffled end of its body .
The low glaucus is capable of holding so many of these stinging cells within that when touch by a homo or predator , the dragons release bite cells full of these toxins into their attacker , clear them even more dangerous than the man o ’ war itself .
Even more inordinately , the blue glaucus is a cooccurring gynandromorph , possess both male and distaff reproductive organs . According toOceana , 16 eggs are place , which take roughly three day to hatch and then live on around a year .
They may be beautiful and , as they are tiny , you may want to get up close and personal to take a picture if you come across one , just call up : do n’t touch !
