“Rainbow Slug” found in unusual habitat in England; See photos Biodiversity

A rare and impressive sight has generated interest in the south of Cornwall on England’s south-west coast. One “Rainbow Slug”Found in a rocky natural pond, not commonly seen in the area.

It was discovered by Vicky Barlow, a volunteer with the Rock Pool Project, which aims to bring citizens closer to marine life in the UK. He was exploring a natural pond in Falmouth 10 days ago when he spotted a sea slug, an animal that was attracted by the colors it displayed.

Barlow told BBC News He discovered a sea slug while trying to find a spider crab. When she saw the unusual figure, she took some pictures and left it in the habitat where it was found.

These snails are usually found in warm waters and are frequented in Portugal, Spain and France. In the United Kingdom, This is the fourth time this animal has been seenAccording to experts consulted by the BBC, he was found for the first time in a natural pond. “It was a very low spring tide, which might explain why it was in a tidal pool,” Barlow said.

The first sighting in British waters took place in 2022 – a sign that recent changes in the animals’ habits are underway. Unfortunately, this is happening as ocean temperatures warm, according to Ben Holt, a marine biologist at the Rock Pool Project. “This is very significant because rock pools are a very hostile environment for snails, with tides coming in and out,” he told the BBC.

“Rainbow Sea Slug”, or Papakina Anatoni, a member of the nudibranch family, is characterized by its bright colors and unusual shapes. Although it is very small (it usually does not exceed two centimeters in length), it is difficult to go unnoticed because it is a living thing like a rainbow.

“This is an amazing discovery and I’m looking forward to seeing these snails,” said Holt, adding that “massive changes” are taking place in south-west British marine life.