Sea Slugs:
A rare sea slug, Discodorid cebuensis, has been recorded in India for the first time after being spotted recently at Haji Ali, Mumbai.
- Sea slugs, sometimes called ocean slugs, water slugs, or nudibranchs, are soft-bodied marine molluscs found in all the world’s oceans, from shallows to the deep sea.
- They are a type of gastropod, a large group of mollusks that includes both marine and land species such as snails and slugs.
- They have no shells, quills, or mantle cavities.
- They look like naked snails, i.e., without shells.
- These slow-moving grazers consume algae, sponges, and other small invertebrates, showcasing a range of feeding habits.
- They are usually found in coral reefs, and their presence is a significant indicator of a strong coral ecosystem.
- Sea slugs are renowned for their vibrant colours and intricate patterns, which often serve as warning signals to predators due to their toxicity.
- They get their toxicity from the creatures they eat, and some sea slugs can even keep the stinging cells of jellyfish inside their bodies.
- On their heads, nudibranchs have tentacles that serve as important sensory organs, helping them detect chemicals and movement in the water.
- When the sea slug eats, it absorbs and displays its prey’s pigment—the substance that gives the prey its color.
- Beyond their striking appearance, sea slugs possess other intriguing traits.
- Some can photosynthesise, producing their own food with sunlight.
- Others regenerate lost limbs, and a few can steal genes from their prey and incorporate them into their DNA.
- Most sea slugs are active throughout the day, but some species are also nocturnal.
