Blue Dragon spotted in Phuket, cute but dangerous.
Blue Dragons have been spotted on Karon Beach in Phuket. Though they may be cute and beautiful, it is very important never to touch these tiny creatures as they will sting. They are Glaucus Atlanticus and have many nicknames including Blue Dragon and Blue Angel. The Blue Dragon is actually a sea slug and prey on larger organisms in the ocean. They even prey on the Portuguese man o’war that are very venomous and dangerous. The Blue Dragon use their featherlike features to move and their colors help mimic the color of the ocean and the reflection of waves to help blend in with nature.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has put out a warning on 1 September 2023. The Blue Dragon might seem exciting and you may be curious, but touching them can lead to a painful day. The department went to where the sea slugs were spotted and confirmed they could be found all along Karon Beach. Furthermore, officials also found two more types of jellyfish including Porpita and Velella. Both are food for the Blue Dragon. Tourists on the beach are advised to avoid the Blue Dragon and any other jellyfish. Doctor Thorn Tamrongnawasawat from the Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University stated the blue dragon is a type of sea slug.
They float on the water and prey on Portuguese man o’war. The way these Blue Dragons collect venom is very interesting, they save the venomous nematocysts from other jelly fishes and store it inside the body. This is why touching them is a bad idea as the saved venom will be released onto your skin. The symptoms are often similar to what you will experience touching the Portuguese man o’war. This includes pain, allergic reactions, vomiting, nausea, and more. The pain is explained to be similar to tiny needles. If you do come into contact then the best solution would be to pour vinegar over the affected area. Blue Dragons only grow to about an inch long so they may be hard to spot in the wild.
FB Caption: Blue Dragons are sea slugs and they are dangerous.
Source: Khaosod
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