#atro

Elysia Atroviridis is one of two Sacoglassans known for their incredibly extreme autotomy. Autotomy is an animals ability to voluntarily get rid of a body part, examples are like lizards who can drop their tails, or that mouse in Africa that can drop its skin, or sea cucumbers that vomit their organs in self defense, etcetera. But what does E. Atroviridis get rid of? It’s entire body! Vital organs and all. It can self-decapitate and just regenerate without any need for a heart or a stomach. In fact, the heart regrows after just 7 days and the whole process is done in just under a month. The heads are also seen munching on algae just hours after the process, and they can live for so long using kleptoplasty which I explained in my last post about Elysia Chlorotica.

The other sea slug that is know for this ability is my darling favorite child: Elysia Marginata. Who will get their own post and I will expand on this super power (because there is so much more to say!!!!)

Note: I swear I did not write this with ChatGPT, I know the bolding makes it look like that but I just wanted it to be easier to read.

Extra super angry note!: when you look up ‘Elysia Atroviridis’ in google the first picture that shows up is a picture of Elysia Margarita!