Gallery: Absurd Creature of the Week: This Crazy-Looking Sea Slug Has an Ingenious Secret Weapon

  • Image may contain Water Aquatic Animal and Sea Life
    Sylke Rohrlach/<a href="https://flic.kr/p/e6SoyN" target="_blank">Flickr</a>
    01

    8599051974-5aaef88102-k

    The blue dragon nudibranch eats the stinging cells of the Portuguese man o' war, then incorporates them into its own skin. That, as biologists say, is pretty baller.
  • Image may contain Animal Sea Life Invertebrate and Sea Anemone
    © Terrence M. Gosliner/California Academy of Sciences
    02

    Phyllodesmium-opalescens-0825-WIRED

    Another species of nudibranch, *Phyllodesmium opalescens*.
  • Image may contain Outdoors Nature Ocean Water Sea Animal Sea Life Reef Aquatic Coral Reef Bird Fish and Food
    © Terrence M. Gosliner/California Academy of Sciences
    03

    Nembrotha-chamberlaini-1013-WIRED

    Another species, *Nembrotha chamberlaini* is...eh who the hell am I kidding. You're not reading these captions.
  • Image may contain Animal Fish Sea Life Ocean Outdoors Nature Water Sea Reef Aquatic and Coral Reef
    Greg McFall/NOAA/<a href="https://flic.kr/p/9RkTKK" target="_blank">Flickr</a>
    04

    5809243677-72f6ac093b-b

    The regal sea goddess.
  • Image may contain Animal Seafood Food Sea Life Lobster Invertebrate and Sea Anemone
    © Terrence M. Gosliner/California Academy of Sciences
    05

    Cuthona-sp.-17-1521-WIRED

    *Cuthona sp.*
  • Image may contain Animal Fish Invertebrate and Slug
    © Terrence M. Gosliner/California Academy of Sciences
    06

    Chromodoris-magnifica-0852-WIRED

    *Chromodoris magnifica*.
  • Image may contain Animal Sea Anemone Sea Life Invertebrate Food and Pizza
    © Terrence M. Gosliner/California Academy of Sciences
    07

    Janolus-sp.-2-1001-WIRED

    Are you still there? This one's *Janolus sp.*
  • Image may contain Outdoors Nature Ocean Water Sea Animal Fish Reef Sea Life Sea Anemone Invertebrate and Aquatic
    © Terrence M. Gosliner/California Academy of Sciences
    08

    Ceratosoma-trilobatum-1260-WIRED

    *Ceratosoma trilobatum*
  • Image may contain Animal Fish Water Aquatic Sea Life and Invertebrate
    © Terrence M. Gosliner/California Academy of Sciences
    09

    Chromodoris-albopunctata-1208-WIRED

    *Chromodoris albopunctata*
  • Image may contain Water Aquatic Animal Fish and Sea Life
    © Terrence M. Gosliner/California Academy of Sciences
    10

    Dermatobranchus-dendronephthyphagus-1029-WIRED

    This one is an Easter egg for those who actually read the captions. I mean, look at this name! *Dermatobranchus dendronephthyphagus*? Sounds like it was named by the guy from *The Rock* who got the poison shoved in his mouth and then spit it all up.
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