Sea slug sucks seaweed sap to grow food with sunlight

By Susan Scott

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 21, 2012

~~<p>One of the things I love about marine biology is discovering how little I know. Really. After spending the last 30 years seeking out, swimming with and reading and writing books about marine animals, I am still learning things that blow me out of the water. Take, for instance, the ringed sap-sucking sea slug.</p>
<p>Every time I go snorkeling in one spot on the North Shore, I see these 2-inch-long animals littered on the sea floor in shallow water. Because these sea slugs are numerous, sand-colored and often partially or fully covered with sand, I mostly ignored them.</p>
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One of the things I love about marine biology is discovering how little I know. Really. After spending the last 30 years seeking out, swimming with and reading and writing books about marine animals, I am still learning things that blow me out of the water. Take, for instance, the ringed sap-sucking sea slug.

Every time I go snorkeling in one spot on the North Shore, I see these 2-inch-long animals littered on the sea floor in shallow water. Because these sea slugs are numerous, sand-colored and often partially or fully covered with sand, I mostly ignored them. Login for more...