What are these creatures? Aug 26, 2021

What are these creatures?

No, this isn"t a still image from a sci-fi space opera. We"re offshore of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, watching a Glaucus atlanticus, aka "sea swallow" or "blue sea dragon," snack on the poisonous tentacles of a Porpita porpita, aka "blue button." At the tips of the blue button"s tentacles are stinging cells called nematocysts, but the venom doesn"t deter the sea swallow. Instead, once the sea swallow ingests the blue button"s poison, it stores the venom in the tips of its own feather-like fingers called papillae. Would-be predators should think twice before biting the sea swallow. The poison concentrated in its papillae can kill a predator in seconds. If you come across either of these creatures washed ashore, don"t touch! While the stings aren"t deadly to humans, they can cause skin irritation.

© Gary Bell/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Aug 26, 2018From pirate port to nature preserve
Aug 26, 2019Classical music takes center stage
Aug 26, 2020Spotted Lake emerges
Aug 26, 2022Kiteboarding and windsurfing in Croatia
Aug 26, 2023Museum Night in Berlin
Aug 26, 2024Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Aug 26, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 17, 2020It s a good day to be green
Nov 26, 2020Happy Thanksgiving from an expert face-stuffer
Jan 29, 2022Brain coral
Jul 25, 2019Jane’s Carousel delights
Nov 1, 2021Native American Heritage Month
Sep 2, 2018Row, row, row your gondola
Mar 18, 2018Christmas Tree Point Road and Twin Peaks, San Francisco
Sep 23, 2019Stepping into autumn
Nov 29, 2021Rainbow Mountain
Mar 31, 2019Celebrating a Paris landmark
Oct 26, 2023Schönbrunn Palace Park, Vienna, Austria
Jul 19, 2026Barn swallows of different subspecies resting together
Jul 2, 2026Ceiling of the Temple of Esna, Egypt
May 31, 2019Mysterious prairie mounds abound
Dec 21, 2018Paper lanterns on the longest night
May 28, 2020Old man s whiskers growing wild
Jul 16, 2023Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
Sep 19, 2021Arrr! Can you talk like a pirate?
Jun 3, 2024World Bicycle Day
Jan 9, 2018Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Feb 17, 2023Great Backyard Bird Count
Oct 17, 2019Red-leaf hunting in Japan
Oct 19, 2024International Archaeology Day
May 21, 2026International Tea Day
Oct 23, 2023Corn maze in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
Sep 27, 2022Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Feb 27, 2023International Polar Bear Day
Sep 19, 2018Talk like a pirate—or walk the plank
Mar 30, 2023Bright and colorful peacock feathers
Oct 3, 2023Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia