Don’t Let Their Name Fool You—Sea Slugs Are Awesome

Across their 10,000 species, sea slugs sport striking colors, external gills, and even the ability to regrow a body from a severed head.

Today we’re spotlighting an underappreciated group of marine creatures: sea slugs. Don’t let their humble name fool you. They come in vivid neon colors, with patterns that rival the most beautiful butterflies and feather-like external gills and tentacles.

There are an estimated 10,000 species of sea slugs and they are incredibly diverse. Some are smaller than a quarter. And one species can weigh more than a terrier, up to 30 pounds. Not to mention their contributions to brain research—understanding their neural networks was the basis for a Nobel Prize in 2000.  

Marine biologist Patrick Krug joins Host Ira Flatow to dive into the slimy science of sea slugs. 

Guest: Dr. Patrick Krug is a sea slug researcher and professor of biological sciences at Cal State LA.

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