Glaucus (gastropod)
| Glaucus | |
|---|---|
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|
| Glaucus atlanticus and G. marginatus (the smaller one) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): |
clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura |
| Superfamily: | Aeolidioidea |
| Family: |
Glaucidae Gray, 1827 |
| Genus: |
Glaucus Forster, 1777 |
| Type species | |
|
Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777 |
|
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
clade Aeolidida
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 of their prey.Glaucus is the only genus in the family Glaucidae. It includes five species.
The genus Glaucus was established by monotypy in 1777 by the British naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster. He described specimens of Glaucus atlanticus recovered during the second voyage of James Cook aboard the HMS Resolution. The genus is named after the Greek sea-god Glaucus. In 1848, the German naturalist Johannes Gistel provided the substitute name Dadone for Glaucus. But it is unnecessary and is now regarded as invalid.
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Wikipedia