Phylliroe sea slug dragon!

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Phylliroe sea slug dragon!
Phylliroe is a genus of nudibranch that actually swims to catch its prey: jellyfish-like hydromedusae. It grows 5cm long, and different species are found in the tropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and the Mediterranean sea. If you think it looks like a fish, you're not alone; this nudibranch is considered an example of convergent evolution, evolving similar swimming mechanisms to fish - which you can watch in this video. One more quirk of this genus: it glows (bioluminesces)!
Photo source
something I felt like making
the first week of this month's prompts. this month is time for mermaids and the first week is nudibranchs. in order these are: doto greenamyeri, phylliroe, blue glaucus, phidiana militaris, jorunna parva, dirona and triopha catalinae [ reblogs > likes ▪ idc if you tag as kin/me ]
Phylliroe. Nudibranch that swims like a fish.
Phylliroe bucephalum, a species of parasitic nudibranch
Meet Pauline, the Phylliroe Nudibranch. Pauline is one of the only freeswimming members of the Depths of discovery cast, one of two to be exact. She wears two fronds of kelp on her rhinophores, almost like hair bows. Depths of discovery launches June 2019. Stay tuned to meet more of the characters 😊 #depthsofdiscovery #melibedepthsofdiscovery #melibe #paulinephylliroe #phylliroe #seaslug #seaslugcharacter #43vrscharacters #myart #myoc #originalcharacter #webcomicteaser #webcomic https://www.instagram.com/p/BrEiRpBHh4Y/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12nsds8ynmqt2
Phylliroe sp. (P. atlantica & P. bucephalum)
Taxonomy: Animalia, Mollusca, Gastropoda, Nudibranchia, Dendronotida, Tritonioidea, Phylliroidae, Phylliroe, Phylliroe sp.
Description: Phylliroe are laterally compressed nudibranchs, with prominent rhinophores and transparent bodies. They posess bioluminescent markings on their bodies. The lateral compression, whisker-like rhinophores and formation of a tail like structure gives these nudibranchs the appearance of a fish, which makes them iconic amongst other nudibranch species.
Lifestyle: Phylliroe live in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Medeterranean: P. atlantica in the first two and P. bucephalum in the latter. These nudibranchs live in deep water, hence the unusual presence of bioluminescence. Both species have a parasitic life cycle; the larval forms attach themselves to the bells of Zanclea costata with their foot, where they feed on the tissues of the bell. As the nudibranch reaches its maximum size of 550mm, the jellyfish shrinks in size, resulting in the adult nudibranch outgrowing the jellyfish after 10 days. Phylliroe then eats the tentacles of the host and departs to live independently. Much of the remaining life cycle of this genus is unknown.
Images from seaslugs, Fabien Michenet and sea slugs of Hawai’i
I love these nudibranchs so much! Not sure if they’re my favourite, but the degree to which they look unlike other nudibranchs is absolutely amazing.