Measuring less than 3 centimeters in size, Jorunna parva sea slugs, affectionately nicknamed “sea bunnies” are one of more than 3,000 species of mollusks typically found in the Western Indo-Pacific region, most notably off the coast of Japan.
These shell-less, gender-less slugs come in all shapes and colors–but don’t let the term “slugs” fool you. With their fluffy appearance and what look like small “ears” and “tails,” these super small slugs strike a strong resemblance to their dry-land namesakes.
According to National Geographic, “Jorunna parva‘s fur-like coat is due to bunches of tiny rods, called caryophyllidia, that cover the animal’s back. They’re arranged around little knobs that are sometimes black, giving the sea bunny its speckled appearance.”
As adorable as these fluffy-looking features are, the ‘ears’ and ‘tails’ of the sea bunnies are for more than looking cute. “The stems protruding from a sea bunny’s back that resemble ears and a tail are actually sensory organs called rhinophores, which nudibrachs use to evaluate chemical changes in the water around them,” one article explains.
Functional or not, the internet has been going crazy for the adorable appearance of these tiny sea bunnies. With videos of the little guys going viral earlier this year, it seems that people can’t still can’t get enough! Still not convinced? Check out these micro-sized sea bunnies below!
