Glaucus (gastropod)

Glaucus
Glaucus atlanticus and G. marginatus (bottom right)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Cladobranchia
Superfamily: Aeolidioidea
Family: Glaucidae
Gray, 1827
Genus: Glaucus
Forster, 1777
Type species
Glaucus atlanticus
Forster, 1777
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Dadone Gistel, 1848
  • Glaucilla Bergh, 1860

Glaucus is a genus of small blue pelagic sea slugs. They are aeolid nudibranchs, ranging in size from 20 to 40 mm (0.79 to 1.57 in). They feed on colonial cnidarians such as Portuguese man o' wars, blue buttons, and purple sails. They can produce painful and potentially dangerous stings when handled, as they store the venomous nematocysts of their prey. Glaucus is the only genus in the family Glaucidae. It includes five species.

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