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AmericaHunter Lane, 7, of Mesa, Arizona, discovered four blue dragons within minutes of visiting the beach of Padre Island National Park on May 2.
One of the green dragons that Hunter found. Photos: CNN
The blue dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) is a small sea slug only 3 cm long. They are distributed in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, according to the non-profit conservation organization Oceana. Although small, the green dragon is still a formidable predator. They specialize in Portuguese man of wars, creatures that look like large jellyfish, and store cells of prey for future use. When humans touch it, the blue dragon can release sting cells and cause burns just like the Portuguese man of war. “If you see blue dragons in the park, you will be surprised because they are very rare, but remember to keep your distance,” said the park representative.
Trey Lane, Hunter’s father, shared that he had been on the beach for 30 years but had never seen a blue dragon. “Hunter loves marine life and thinks it is a blue button jellyfish,” said Trey.
Recently, many beach visitors saw blue dragons, according to Jamie Kennedy, a park spokesperson. The frequent appearance of this species may be the result of a large herd that washes ashore.
A Khang (The O CNN)
