This bizarre creature is not of any work of fiction, fantasy or mythical lore. But a product of our own mother Earth. It can be hard to believe that something so strange and alien like belongs to the same world that we live. Scientifically named the glaucus atlanticus in its Latin terms, the blue dragon sea Slug is just as interesting and foreign as it is physically pleasing to the eye. This attractive species is generally unknown due to its rarity and lack of human interaction, but for those who have heard of and seen the slug understand the irresistible urge to look away; mostly because of its vibrant blue color.
The Blue Dragon is found in tropical waters throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The few pictures of the slug may be deceiving but the slug is just a mere one inch long. It is amazing that the Earth’s oceans can maintain such a variety of life but despite its size, this mollusk has developed an ingenious form of camouflage. That brilliant blue that hypnotizes the eye actually serves a great survival purpose. It may be strange that the animal actually swims upside down in the water, but the blue and silver you see is actually its underside and blends in with the water. This adaptation protects the species from UV rays as well as predators above the water due to the reflection of the sun off the silver color. To our knowledge this two in one camo has worked so far but from time to time the slug crosses paths with humans and can stir up quite the commotion.
Unfortunately, this charming little critter cannot be kept as a pet. If you were considering the idea, it would be wise to think again. The Blue Dragon is incredibly dangerous and packs a punch you would never see coming. The crazy thing is that it borrows its poison from others in the ocean and the main source of prey is the Portuguese Man o’ War. For those unfamiliar with the deadly jellyfish, it is by far one of the most intimidating beasts in the ocean and too is incredibly poisonous. The slug clings on to the jellyfish’s many poisonous tentacles and eats away. During this process, the Blue Dragon is not only immune to the toxins but absorbs them only later to use them against its own potential predators. Humans are highly advised to not touch or interact with the slug for obvious safety reasons. The reaction to the inflicted poison is the same as a Man o’ War sting which is extremely painful and hard to treat, although an actual human death from such a sting is just as rare as running into the Sea Slug itself.
To take down and eat a Man o’ War in its entirety is impressive and pretty badass. The Blue Dragon is easily the most confident species in the ocean. The slug proves to the world that size does not make one inferior. Just like Master Jedi Yoda, power comes in all shapes and sizes because,
“Size matters not. Look at me, Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not.”
Yoda’s dismissal of his skeptics serves as an example that the blue dragon sea Slug can live by. The true Jedi of the Waves is a force to be reckoned with.
