“Blue dragon”, the mysterious animal spotted in the waters of Mallorca

The ‘blue dragon’, the mysterious animal spotted in the waters of Mallorca

A surprising discovery has taken place in the deep waters of Mallorca, where marine biologist and advocate for the Balearic marine environment, Gádor Muntaner (https://gadormunta.com/), found a specimen of the enigmatic blue dragon, a marine species that hadn’t been recorded in the area for over three centuries (from the year 1705).

The discovery occurred on Friday afternoon, while Muntaner was sailing with paramotor pilot César Canudas in an area northwest of the island, specifically around the Serra de Tramuntana. There, floating in the open sea, appeared the Glaucus atlanticus, a nudibranch rarely seen in the Mediterranean. While it is more common in the Atlantic and around the Canary Islands, its presence in Mediterranean waters is extremely rare.

“It’s a marine mollusk that inhabits pelagic zones, meaning it is found far from the coast and not on the seabed, but suspended in the open sea, in the bluest part of the ocean,” Muntaner explains with excitement. “When I saw dolphins swimming near our boat, I looked into the water and, to my surprise, there it was. I couldn’t help but scream with excitement.”

The specimen measured between three and four centimeters, placing it among the largest of its kind. Despite its spectacular appearance, the blue dragon is not venomous by itself. However, it feeds on stinging species such as the Portuguese man o’ war and Velella velella—marine organisms that contain toxins, which this small predator can store within its body.

After observing it carefully and documenting the find, the animal was returned to its natural habitat. The experience reinforces Gádor Muntaner’s commitment to ocean conservation. Her outreach work has recently been amplified by the publication of her first book, La sonrisa de los tiburones (“The Smile of the Sharks”), a work that has been well received and through which she continues raising awareness about the importance of protecting the marine environment.