Potentially Dangerous "Blue Dragons" wash up in Southern Florida
- March 8, 2016
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- By Story/Photos By Surfguru
They may look cute and cuddly but they pack a concentrated jellyfish like sting. Blue Glaucus also called "Blue Dragons" is a species of small, blue sea slug. They are able to swallow the venomous nematocysts (stingers) from the Portuguese man o' war, and store them in the extremities of its finger-like cerata. Picking up the animal can result in a painful sting, with symptoms similar to those caused by the Portuguese man o' war.
They have been showing up on South Eastern Beaches in Florida so watch out. Be sure to tell your young children not to pick them up. They are beautiful and colorful to look at, but it is best to leave them be.