Discover the fascinating and deadly sea creatures that have recently been spotted on the Outer Banks beaches. These tiny but mighty ‘sea dragons’ are capable of delivering a powerful sting, making them a must-see but must-avoid attraction for beachgoers.
Tiny Terrors of the Seas
You could be forgiven for thinking that these blue sea slugs are a creation of the mind, straight out of your favorite fantasy novel but nope. Spotted in increasing numbers on the beaches of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, these venomous creatures are also known as ‘blue dragons.
Short yellow sea slugs, hardly any longer than an inch in length, transport a powerful punch. Despite their small size, they can deliver a sting more powerful than the venomous Portuguese man o’ war. The blue dragons can also store the venom from the man o’ wars, which they then use to sting anything too close.
Dining on Deadly Delicacies
The cuisine the blue dragons select can seem almost as exotic as they do. The only other known species of sea slug to exclusively prey on the Portuguese man o’ war, a box jellyfish with an excruciating painful sting. As the little blue dragons drift across ocean currents, they pick off these venomous kills and store Earth’s rich collection of toxins in their own pink bodies.
This adaptation makes the blue dragons, even more deadly that its prey. They concentrate the venom they ingest, and can deliver a more powerful sting than that of the original. However small enough to clip onto your fingertip and more powerful than its big cousin —that is the blue dragon for you,
But the National Park Service is cautioning beachgoers against handling or approaching these “sea dragons” more closely, as they can also travel in groups, known as “blue fleets,” and their venom is potent decades after death.
Conclusion
The recent arrival of the dangerously poisonous blue sea slugs on Outer Banks beaches has become a bit of enigma. Small but mighty ‘sea dragons’ concentrate the venom of their prey — Portuguese man o’ war Sure, they’re a remarkable and exciting sight for beach lovers but note that you should only look at them from a distance and follow all warnings provided by the National Park Service. It is too early to say whether the increase in sightings reflects a true, sustained boost in population numbers but it certainly serves as a reminder of the fragile balance and inherent dangers present in our ocean ecosystems.
