• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
New species of mysterious sea creature found in UK for first time could be a serious warning

Home> News> UK News

Published 21:11 1 Mar 2024 GMT

New species of mysterious sea creature found in UK for first time could be a serious warning

This may not be a good sign

Kit Roberts

Kit Roberts

Scientists have spotted a new species in UK waters for the first time, which is pretty cool, right?

Well, yes and no.

While your initial reaction might be one of celebration, sadly on this occasion the appearance of the mysterious sea creature may not be a good sign for the waters around the UK.

While the UK's waters may not be as spectacular as a tropical coral reef, temperate waters like those around the UK are actually some of the richest for marine life in the world.

Advert

But species like this one are not normally found this far north, and could be an indicator of some worrying trends surrounding climate change.

So what is this mysterious creature causing all the fuss?

It's a sea slug!

Meet the sea slug, which is a member of the Pleurobranchaea group that's normally found much further south off the waters of Spain or in the Mediterranean Sea.

Sea slugs are marine molluscs which don't have a shell, unlike their cousins the sea snails which can boast enormous shells.

Sea Slugs come in all shapes and sizes.
Andre Seale/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The name 'sea slug' can also be used colloquially to refer to animals which resemble a slug but which are actually very different biologically, such as a sea cucumber.

These are actually echinoderms, the same group as starfish and sea urchins, rather than molluscs.

But what does the presence of this particular sea slug indicate?

Sadly, it's not good news. The new type of slug called Pleurobranchaea britannica was discovered by Ross Bullimore from the Centre for the Environment, Food and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)

He explained that this is an indicator species, meaning that it is sensitive to its environment so can be used to gauge change.

He said: "We're seeing the presence of a species [belonging to a group] which has always previously been recorded in warmer waters.

Sea Slugs are a hugely varied kind of animal.
Andre Seale/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

"It could indicate that what you're observing is this group of species being able to expand its range further because conditions are becoming more favourable or more appropriate for it."

Peter Barry of CEFAS said: "To find a new species that's not microscopic is quite exciting. It shows that there's still work to be done."

It is exciting to find a new species, but this also indicates that conditions around UK waters are changing.

While the sea slug may love it, it's possible that native UK species may not find new conditions quite so hospitable.

This goes all the way down to the plankton at the bottom of the food chain, on which many other species ultimately depend.

Featured Image Credit: Andre Seale/VW PICS/Universal Images Group/Getty Images/Cristian Umili/VWPics/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Topics: News, UK News, Animals

Kit Roberts
Kit Roberts

Kit joined LADbible Group in 2023 as a community journalist. They previously worked for StokeonTrentLive, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Star.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Trump mixes Greenland up with another country in major speech blunder despite demanding to own it

    The US President appeared to misspeak on multiple occasions while onstage at the World Economic Forum

    News
  • Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images
    9 hours ago

    Donald Trump makes major U-turn as 'future deal' over Greenland made following meeting with Nato leader

    Donald Trump has issued a statement about Greenland on Truth Social

    News

    breaking

  • Ben Birchall/PA Wire
    10 hours ago

    British mum of 10 who kept woman as slave for 25 years had chilling response when asked if sorry for crimes

    Amanda Wixon forced the victim to care for her kids and clean her squalid home for more than a quarter of a century

    News
  • Getty Stock Image
    11 hours ago

    Doctor issues severe warning about 'toasted skin syndrome' you can get from using a laptop

    Medics have urged people to stop 'slow roasting' their skin

    News
  • Mysterious deep sea creature with no facial features was discovered for first time since 1800s
  • Urgent warning as world’s most dangerous jellyfish-like creature dubbed 'floating terrors' spotted on UK beach
  • What UK conscription could really look like as five groups most likely to serve first revealed
  • 'Lost' species of spider discovered on Isle of Wight four decades after vanishing from UK