Veliger larvae. Photo © Ryo Minemizu
“Behold the mesmerizing beauty of veliger larvae, tiny creatures that seem to have captured the stars and created their own night sky in the depths of the ocean!
These beautiful beings are the larval stage of many marine gastropods, including conchs, sea slugs, and snails.
They typically have a translucent body and a small central shell that is less than 1mm in diameter. Veliger larvae have a special organ called a velum, which has cilia that they use for swimming. This organ can quickly retract the larva into its shell when it is surprised or threatened.”
Veliger larvae are often found floating in the ocean at night and can display bioluminescence, emitting a mesmerizing glow in the dark!
*this article is a virtual collaboration with our friends at Ocean Conservation Research
Oceanwire 