At first glance, it looks like a creature straight out of a sci-fi movie or a rare water-type Pokémon! If you clicked the link from our Brain Test Quiz video, get ready to discover the beautiful but terrifying secrets of the Blue Dragon (Glaucus Atlanticus).
It is only about an inch (3 cm) long, but don't let its tiny size fool you!
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Where Does This "Alien" Live?
Scientifically known as Glaucus atlanticus, this bizarre sea slug is completely real. It lives in the open ocean, floating completely upside down on the surface tension of the water! It uses the winds and ocean currents to travel across warm waters globally. The bright blue side faces up to camouflage with the water, while the silver side faces down to blend with the sunlight from below.
Its DEADLY Real-Life Secret
Despite being so small and looking incredibly beautiful, the Blue Dragon hides a terrifying superpower:
- The Venom Thief: Blue Dragons are immune to the venom of deadly jellyfish like the Portuguese Man o' War. Instead of swimming away, they EAT them!
- Storing the Venom: After eating the toxic tentacles, they don't digest the venom. Instead, they store the deadliest stinging cells in their own finger-like appendages (called cerata).
- A Dangerous Sting: Because they concentrate the stolen venom, touching a tiny Blue Dragon can result in a sting far more painful and dangerous than the original jellyfish!
Those beautiful blue "fingers" are loaded with stolen jellyfish venom!
Warning: If you ever see one of these beautiful creatures washed up on the beach, DO NOT touch it! Did you guess this deadly little "Pokemon" correctly in our 10-second challenge? Let us know in the comments!
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