Beachgoers at Muizenberg were met with an unusual and potentially dangerous sight this morning after several blue dragon sea slugs washed up along the shoreline. Despite measuring less than three centimetres in length, blue dragons are extremely venomous and can sting even when they are dead. Blue dragons are surface-dwelling sea slugs that float upside down using a gas-filled sac in their bodies, allowing them to drift with ocean currents and winds. Blue dragons feed on venomous marine animals such as Portuguese man o’ wars, and instead of being harmed, they store the stinging cells from their prey in their own tissues. While blue dragons are rarely encountered, their appearance on popular beaches serves as a reminder that marine life, no matter how small or beautiful, should be treated with caution.