Winged Sea Slug, Gastropteron pacificum

This sea slug is an absolute delight to watch as it makes its way up and down the water column, in and out of seaweed beds, flapping its wings effortlessly one minute and with what appears to be pure exhaustion the next.  For the snorkeler or shallow free-diver it is not uncommon to see them swim to the surface and then sink to the bottom, lying lifeless, sometimes sinking into the sand or below the weeds.   What appear to be wings are actually extensions of its foot and its is “simply?” flapping its enlarged parapodial flaps.  I will upload a video of these beautiful, but tiny critters swimming in the near future.  Trying to capture this animal in the lens of a camera is a challenge, especially given their tendency to suddenly drop out of the screen. 

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