Blue dragon sea slugs are commonly found in temperate and tropical waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They often gather in floating groups sometimes called a “blue fleet.”
These tiny sea slugs drift wherever ocean currents carry them. They are frequently seen near floating objects and among other surface creatures such as the Portuguese man o’ war, the by-the-wind sailor and the violet snail.
Climate change and shifting ocean currents appear to be affecting their distribution. In recent years researchers have recorded the species moving northward by about 93 miles (150 km) in the Gulf of California.
Strong winds and ocean currents can also lead to sightings along unexpected coastlines including parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast.