Ear: Angels

“We have been seeing and getting reports of sea cherubs washing ashore,” the Seaside Aquarium posted on Facebook. “Sea cherubs (Cliopsis krohni) are highly specialized sea slugs that spend their whole lives swimming in the open ocean.

“They have a pair of swing-like paddles which are used for swimming, and are able to propel themselves quickly. While they may not look like it, they are voracious hunters, and can take down prey three times their size.”

The Marine Science Institute says they are born with shells they lose as adults. Their “wings” are an adaptation of the land slug’s foot. When hunting, they’re no angels. When they grab their prey, mostly sea butterflies — another sea slug — small tentacles come out of its head, and hooks pull the sea butterfly out of its shell in about 2 minutes.

The aquarium noted that sea cherubs can be found from the surface to depths of over 5,000 feet. (Photos: Seaside Aquarium)