The Violet Sea-snail (Janthina janthina) is a unique, holoplanktonic marine gastropod that spends its entire life floating on the surface of the open ocean, but can get washed ashore in large numbers during a storm. The snail cannot swim but they secrete mucus from their foot to create a 'Bubble Raft' that keeps them afloat, if they lose the raft, they sink to the ocean floor and die. When threatened, the snail can release a purple dye for defence.
Contributor: Kim McCormack