The Melibe are sought-after by many underwater photographers
No need to go to space to find weird life forms. These ones can be found in all the world's oceans. Meet the Melibe. 😳
Photogenic sea slug
What is the Melibe viridis?
The Melibe viridis is a species belonging to the Melibe genus, which, in turn, belongs to the group of nudibranchs, of small marine mollusks. Essentially, it is a transparent type of sea slug that can reach a length of 5.5 inches. While most nudibranchs feed by slowly snacking on immobile animals, like sponges or coral, the Melibe are active hunters, eating small crustaceans they find on the ocean floor or around the algae that they attach themselves to. To capture them, they have an extendible oral hood that they close around their prey. Not only are some species of Melibe among the largest nudibranchs but some of them can also swim for several meters.
Like the other nudibranchs, the Melibe are also distinguished by the varied appearance of the 17 species that are currently recognized: Melibe arianeae, Melibe australis, Melibe bucephala, Melibe colemani, Melibe coralophilia, Melibe digitata, Melibe engeli, Melibe leonina, Melibe litvedi, Melibe maugeana, Melibe megaceras, Melibe minuta, Melibe papillosa, Melibe pilosa, Melibe rosea, Melibe tuberculata, and Melibe virdis. There are also three doubtful species that still have not been confirmed including Melibe capucina, Melibe ocellata, and Melibe rangi. This species, Melibe viridis, is popular with underwater photographers: since they are quasi-transparent, only their internal organs show. Between all these different species, the Melibe can be found almost everywhere around the world. However, this particular kind lives in the Mediterranean and Red Seas.
Warmer oceans endangering several species
The gradual rise in ocean temperatures and carbon dioxide levels may affect life for many sea creatures including the Melibe. For example, sea otters, which have been protected since 1911, have been dying in large groups as the warmer water produces a bacteria which renders mollusks, their diet, toxic to eat. The Red Sea is home to a very rich biodiversity including species that are endangered everywhere else. This unprecedented situation is being studied closely by scientists.
Brut.
30 comments
Marge D.
08/24/2020 15:46I Love This Kinda Stuff ❣️
Cindy W.
08/21/2020 00:51SO cool!
Cyndy P.
08/09/2020 01:13amazing ♡
Casey B.
07/26/2020 19:27God is so incredible!
Magali D.
07/08/2020 22:38fascinant. Tu connaissais?
Hajera M.
07/08/2020 07:52Wonderful creatures
Cheruto N.
07/07/2020 18:08God is an artist no doubt
Slagana K.
07/07/2020 16:20Lele....ubavini..😉🤗🙂
B.j. S.
07/07/2020 14:01Interesting and weird.
Charlotte D.
07/06/2020 14:04shit I have nightmares about
Arbolero T.
07/06/2020 13:40Looks like Calvin from Life!
Carol M.
07/06/2020 12:55I was trying to find this name for two weeks!
Shiz S.
07/06/2020 11:26😬😬
Kris J.
07/06/2020 10:05Pussy monsters
Trà Đ.
07/06/2020 07:41bơi bơi
Spencer P.
07/06/2020 07:22Animals like these make be wonder what the life on other planets would be like worse case scenario they are all Thing's, xenomorphs, Cthulhu's and/or Azathoths
Eunice V.
06/05/2020 20:48Impressionante 😘😘🌺🌺
Jessica G.
05/23/2020 10:41this is what I was talking about the other day x
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Blake M.
05/20/2020 21:48Emma Weston was this what you were talking about