Pteropods from New Jersey, USA

October 3, 2007
From: Kate Winters

Hello,
We found these creatures washed up on the (USA) New Jersey shore (Long Island beach) by the thousands last summer, 2006. These little guys were around an inch 1/2 long, transparent, with orange "guts" , fins, tail, and maybe a mouth. They looked like little manatee's.

Wondering if you can tell us what they are? Some experts are saying sea slugs.

Thank you - looking forward to your response,
Kate Winters and sons, Aaron and Jordan (age 12)

KFWinters@aol.com

Winters, K., 2007 (Oct 3) Pteropods from New Jersey, USA. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20879

Dear Kate,
These are indeed sea slugs, and are commonly known as sea butterflies or pteropods. I am pretty sure your animals are the unshelled carnivorous pteropod Clione limacina, which feeds on another group of pteropods which still have a shell, and feed on microscopic plants in the plankton. If you have a look at the Fact Sheet for that species, and the messages attached to that page you will find more photos and information on the species.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Oct 3). Comment on Pteropods from New Jersey, USA by Kate Winters. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20879

Factsheet

Clione limacina

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