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Hey, it's Ira Flato, and you're listening to Science Friday. Today on the show, we're spotlighting an

unappreciated group of sea creatures, sea slugs. Now, I know that name is not very glamorous, so they probably

evoke an image of garden slugs, you know, those gray slow-moving snails, right? But I can tell you

from personal experience, when I had a saltwater aquarium that my sea slugs were some of the

most colorful, beautiful creatures in the tank,

and you know what?

It's not just their beauty that is impressive.

First of all, their diversity is vast.

With an estimated 10,000 different species, some are smaller than a quarter, and one species

can weigh more than your terrier.

I'm talking 30 pounds.

And as I say, they come in vivid neon colors with patterns that rival the most beautiful butterflies come complete with feather-like external gills and tentacles, not to mention

their usefulness in brain research. Understanding their neural networks was the basis for a Nobel Prize.

Joining me now to take us inside the slimy science of sea slugs is my guest, Dr. Patrick Krug,

C. Slug researcher and professor of biological sciences at Cal State, L.A., based of course,

in Los Angeles. Welcome to Science Friday.

Thank you for having me. I was always enamored with sea slugs when I had them in my tank.

...