lunes, 7 de octubre de 2024   inicia sesión o regístrate
 
Protestante Digital

 
Antonio Cruz
 

The sea slug

How does such a fragile and conspicuous organism survive in a sub aqua environment, replete with voracious predators?

ZOE AUTOR 102/Antonio_Cruz 09 DE OCTUBRE DE 2016 17:55 h
Photo: Antonio Cruz

This little sea mollusc (Flabellina affinis), just three centimetres long, which I photographed on the Catalan coast, is actually themarine nudibranch.



This means that its gills are totally naked, or exposed, rather than being protected by a shell or any other structure, as is the case with other species. So how does such a fragile and conspicuous organism survive in a sub aqua environment, replete with voracious predators? Well it is precisely the striking colours it displays that warn other sea creatures of its lethal toxicity. The powerful poison it contains makes any would-be predators keep their distance, with the result that it doesn’t have any. Its survival is nevertheless subject to the temperature of the water and other climatic conditions.



What is more, these organisms are hermaphrodites. That is to say, they are not divided into separate male and female sexes but each individual has the ability to receive sperm to fertilise its own eggs, and also to deliver sperm to fertilise the eggs of other individuals. Needless to say, the eggs are always cross-fertilised, to avoid auto-fertilisation. Aside from the obvious beauty, intelligence, adaptability, foresight and design that the nudibranchs’ way of life exhibits, this breeding method is also very striking. Hermaphroditism is ideal for organisms that find it difficult to find a mate, whether due to the characteristics of their habitats, their small numbers, their isolation or their slow movements.



It is fascinating to observe the great wisdom with which the Creator thought of all these details!


 

 


0
COMENTARIOS

    Si quieres comentar o

 



 
 
ESTAS EN: - - - The sea slug
 
 
Síguenos en Ivoox
Síguenos en YouTube y en Vimeo
 
 
RECOMENDACIONES
 
PATROCINADORES
 

 
AEE
PROTESTANTE DIGITAL FORMA PARTE DE LA: Alianza Evangélica Española
MIEMBRO DE: Evangelical European Alliance (EEA) y World Evangelical Alliance (WEA)
 

Las opiniones vertidas por nuestros colaboradores se realizan a nivel personal, pudiendo coincidir o no con la postura de la dirección de Protestante Digital.