The psychedelic purple. These brightly colored sea slugs are about 5 centimeters long, and their dazzling colors hint to predators that they are toxic.
Sea slugs are often difficult to spot because their skin color and texture closely resemble the surrounding environment.
Sea slugs are found in seas all over the world, and are widely distributed in warm ocean areas.
International Online Exclusive: According to the *Daily Mail* on March 18th, British photography enthusiasts David and Henshaw captured some beautiful underwater sea slugs in the waters off Indonesia and the Philippines.
You may occasionally find a similar kind of mollusk in your vegetable leaves—these creatures are called slugs, also known as water leeches or commonly referred to as "snail without a shell." They resemble shell-less snails and mostly live in dark, damp places such as greenhouses, vegetable cellars, near residences, farmland, under stones rich in decaying matter, fallen leaves, grasslands, and by drainage ditches. The sea slugs photographed by these two British photography enthusiasts are distant relatives of land slugs. Sea slugs belong to the nudibranch category, and their habitat is saltwater marine areas. Adult nudibranchs grow to between 2-60 centimeters in length and lack shells or protective covers.
Some sea slugs, like other nudibranchs, have bright colors. Most nudibranchs are carnivorous: some feed on sponges, others on hydroids, while still others prey on anemones. Some are even cannibalistic. Like terrestrial slugs, they are hermaphroditic but require cross-fertilization. Sea slugs have a short lifespan, typically surviving for about one year. To date, over 3,000 species of nudibranchs have been discovered, with many new species being identified each year. Sea slugs move slowly, and their vibrant colors serve as both a form of camouflage and a visual treat for divers. (By Hailan)