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Costa Blanca Imposes Bathing Ban Over 'Blue Dragon' Sightings

Authorities acted after sightings of the venom-capable 'blue dragon' sea slug.

Overview

  • Guardamar del Segura closed a seven-mile stretch of beach following confirmed appearances of Glaucus atlanticus.
  • Mayor José Luis Sáez urged the public to avoid the small, brightly colored animal because contact can cause painful stings.
  • The city launched preventive searches for specimens carried ashore by currents, and local police and lifeguards issued warnings to beachgoers.
  • The pelagic nudibranch floats at the surface, preys on jellyfish such as the Portuguese man o' war, and can deliver stings using stored nematocysts.
  • The coverage reports no new envenomations from this event and recalls a 2018 Portuguese man o' war case that prompted bans and a hospitalization.