Species Spotlight · 18 Jan 2024
Sea angels belong to the clade Gymnosomata and are diminutive sea slugs that rarely exceed seven centimetres in length. Their name derives from the wing-like appendages they use for aquatic movement.
These creatures demonstrate captivating motion patterns resembling coordinated dancing. They possess semi-transparent bodies that expose their internal organs and reproductive structures to observation.
The internal anatomy of sea angels is observable without specialised equipment, offering a rare window into their physiological systems.
Sea angels are hermaphrodites capable of changing sex. Their reproductive behaviour involves extensive spinning movements that observers often find aesthetically remarkable.
During mating rituals, paired sea angels remain attached, spinning for hours as they drift through the ocean's depths.