But sea slugs and sea snails are anything but horrible….lets dive in!
Sea slugs are mostly sea snails that decided they didn’t need a shell. They are lovingly known as ocean butterflies due to their stunning colours, it is therefore quite ironic that they have terrible eyesight and can really only see light and dark. Most species breathe through their skin or have very primitive gills on their backs.
There are around 3,000 species of sea slug in the world and they are found in shallow and deep oceans. In the UK there are around 100 species and as the news recently has shown we continue to find new ones.
Some sea slugs have a rare and unusual ability that has only recently been fully understood. The slugs eat plants and then harvest the chloroplasts the cells that photosynthesize and use them to make food for themselves. These amazing solar powered sea slugs live in shallow waters and benefit from being able to photosynthesize. This means that they don’t have to eat for weeks on end!
I think the word quirky was invented to describe sea slugs – as well as having photosynthetic properties, some have internal shells, they are highly toxic and distinctly cannibalistic….but they can regenerate their own bodies!
Closer to home, there are around 100 species of sea slugs that can be found in the waters around England. Notable ones in the South West include the Solar Powered Sea Slug, the Scarlet Lady and the orange clubbed sea slug, all these stunning animals can be found around our coastline.
So, the next time we have a lovely low tide go and see what you can find. Just remember to put back any rocks you move and look but don’t touch!