Ethereal ‘Sea Angel’ Slug Looks Like CGI Alien

Ethereal: adjective that describes something that is “very fragile and light in a manner that appears too perfect for this world.” It’s an enjoyable word to use, and from now on when people look it up in the dictionary, there ought to truly be a photo of a sea angel. Simply have a look at the video listed below of one of the sensational, clear slugs– yes, it’s a slug– carefully drifting in emerald-colored ice water, and we think you’ll agree.

For those mere mortals who’ve yet to witness one of these supremely delicate squishes of biological rainbow, the sea angel (or “clione”) is a sea-dwelling gastropod that’s had its “foot” developed into a pair of “wing-like flapping appendages” by excellent ol’ evolution. Sea angels, which are categorized into 6 various families underneath the clade, or biological branch of life, Gymnosomata, are found in oceans across the world, although this especially breathtaking example was spotted in the White Sea, off the northwest coast of Russia.

Assistant teacher at the University of North Carolina Asheville, Rebecca R. Helm, posted the above clip to her Twitter account just recently, although the video itself was shot by Alexander Semenov. Semenov, a marine biologist and Head of the Divers’ group at Moscow State University’s White Sea Biological Station, appears to be a mix between Aquaman and Expense Nye, as he and his group conduct undersea research in “unfavourable and frequently harsh conditions” in order to observe sea animals that can not be properly studied in captivity.

Regrettably, Semenov didn’t offer much description for the sea angel beneath his video, so it’s difficult to say what his professional take on this little angelic creature is. However what we did discover after some cursory sleuthing is that those bright orange-red blobs inside of the sea angel aren’t brains– or radiant treasures brought over from some sort of netherworld– but are, in truth, its gonads. (An image of Sea angels ought to not appear next to the word “gonads” in the dictionary, by the way.)

As far as getting another hit of heavenly splendor, there are more videos like this one on Semenov’s YouTube page, as well as images of other stunning sea creatures on Semenov’s site. His pictures are just as stunning, if not more so, than his videos, and are basically guaranteed to provide you a take a look at a range of bizarre organisms in a whole new light. Due to the fact that when Semenov says that he aims “to reveal [people] a world loaded with unusual and wildly intriguing things,” the veteran marine biologist does not mean that gently.

What do you think about this ethereal sea angel? Is this modified, translucent slug certainly the most angelic sea creature you’ve ever seen, or are you quite sure the EVNautilus has discovered organisms that are much more otherworldly? Let us know your thoughts in the remarks!

Header Image: Alexander Semenov

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