New Zealand Seashore

DSC_4726 Grey side-gilled sea slug (Pleurobranchaea maculata) juvenile. Until 2009, it was not known that this sea slug contains tetrodotoxin (TTX) – a toxic substance that killed several dogs on an Auckland beach, presumably after they ate the slugs. This common and rather nondescript sea slug, is now considered our most toxic creature. Goat Island Marine Reseve, Leigh *

550 / 2079

DSC_4726 Grey side-gilled sea slug (Pleurobranchaea maculata) juvenile. Until 2009, it was not known that this sea slug contains tetrodotoxin (TTX) – a toxic substance that killed several dogs on an Auckland beach, presumably after they ate the slugs. This common and rather nondescript sea slug, is now considered our most toxic creature. Goat Island Marine Reseve, Leigh *

DSC 4726 Grey sidegilled sea slug Pleurobranchaea maculata juvenile sea slug tetrodotoxin TTX toxic our most toxic animal Goat Island Marine Reseve Leigh