The ocean is the least explored place on Earth. A new species of sea slugs has been discovered in English waters.
Researchers from the Centre for Environment, Food and Aquaculture Sciences (CEFAS) and the University of Cádiz, Spain, have discovered the new species on the southwest coast of England.
It's time to get acquainted with Pleurobranchaea britannica, a 2 to 5 cm long lateral gill sea slug.
According to the press release, the sea slugs were found during regular fisheries surveys conducted in Cefas and in the waters near the Gulf of Cádiz in southwest Spain.
Researchers were intrigued by the unique characteristics of this sea slug. This sea creature has a distinctive lateral gills on the right side of its body. This discovery led researchers to initially classify it as Pleurobranchaea Meckeli - a species already known to the scientific community.
It belongs to the genus Pleurobranchaea and lives from northern Spain to Senegal and the Mediterranean. This prompted further research, and the scientists gave the specimens to sea slug experts in Spain. Researchers from the University of Cádiz examined the DNA of the specimen in great detail.
They also compared physical characteristics and reproductive systems with other known species of the genus. Extensive examination has shown that this specimen of sea slugs belongs to a new species in the scientific community. The press release highlights that this is the first time that a sea slug from the genus Pleurobranchaea has been found in British waters.
Scientists believe that this new species has the potential to be found south of Spain and Portugal, around the coast of France and southwest of the English Channel," the press release mentions.
Sea slugs are shellless marine mollusks that are important in marine ecosystems. They help balance the food chain by acting as apex predators and prey.
To protect themselves from predators, some species specialize in ** a part of the animal they prey. For example, the absorption of toxins from certain prey and the secretion of poison into their own **, "the press release explains.
Sea slugs are also sensitive indicators of environmental change and can provide insight into the impact of climate change and human activities on marine habitats.
The study noted that the discovery of the species in British and Spanish waters could mean changes in the marine environment. Research vessels may play an important role in collecting data to better understand species change and ocean dynamics. In turn, this data will contribute to conservation efforts to protect marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
The findings were published in the Journal of Animal Systematics and Evolution.