Mysterious sea slugs similar to starfish discovered in UK waters

A new species of mysterious sea slugs named Pleurobranchaea Britannica has been discovered for the first time in UK waters. A ship comprised of researchers discovered these mysterious sea creatures off the southwest coast of England.

The mysterious sea slugs belong to a group that lives in warmer seas and may be migrating north due to climate change. Ocean temperatures are at record highs in this region. Hence, it raises concerns about the impact on marine life.

Researchers team discovered more than 100 different types of sea slugs in the waters of Britain and Ireland. Later on, they realized they had found something special.

So, what are the mysterious sea slugs making all the fuss? The appearance of these sea slugs was like a light bulb going off. These slug creatures are marine mollusks that do not have a shell. These are not mollusks but rather echinoderms which include starfish and sea urchins.

Ross Bullimore of the Center for Environment, Food, and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) found this unique species, Pleurobranchaea Britannica. Ross stated that this species is an indicator species. It means it is sensitive to its surrounding environment and may be used to monitor changes in marine life.

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Mysterious sea slug creatures are crucial discoveries being indicator species. It will help biologists and scientists to investigate marine ecosystems. They can learn about the general status of their habitat by monitoring their behaviors and health.

Furthermore, studying this creature can help conservation efforts and management techniques to protect weak marine habitats. According to researchers, the discovery shows they still have much to learn about life in their oceans.

CEEFAS researcher Peter Barry stated finding a new species that is not tiny is quite exciting. It shows they need to do more work. The Scientific Journal of Zoosystematics and Evolution has published this study.