Glaucus atlanticus on Gold Coast, Queensland

December 14, 2006
From: John Campbell

Concerning message #16552:

On patrol with many long serving members and meeting older beach goers today no one had seen these little fellas [Glaucus atlanticus ] before. People were very curious and unsure of the stinging power of them as they carry that tell tale blue colour "dont touch". Are they here to stay? Or have they fallen off an Indonesian fishing boat? I read the notice of a Fraser Island sighting and am sure they are new to the region. They would be a much welcome relief from the blue bottles that arrive every summer with the northerly winds, but the number of them is a little disconcerting none the less.

Locality: North Burleigh Beach, Gold Coast, on Beach, sthn Queensland, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 10 December 2006, Sandy Ocean Beach . Length: 10 - 20 mm

John Campbell

j.campbell@burnsdesign.com.au

Campbell, J., 2006 (Dec 14) Glaucus atlanticus on Gold Coast, Queensland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18991

Dear JC,
I guess you have had a look at the Glaucus atlanticus and Bluebottle [Physalia] Fact Sheets. They are both part of a 'blue fleet' of animals living in the open ocean. Normally where you find one you will find the other, but often when there is a big invasion of bluebottles, the Glaucus are ignored or thought to be broken off bits of  a Bluebottle. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security however, because the Glaucus eat bluebottles and stores the worst of the bluebottle stings at the tips of the fan-like processes we call cerata. So far from a welcome relief I must warn you that you can get a much more concentrated and powerful sting from the Glaucus than from the Bluebottles.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Dec 14). Comment on Glaucus atlanticus on Gold Coast, Queensland by John Campbell. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18991

Factsheet

Glaucus atlanticus

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