Sea Slugs Are Way Cooler Than Regular Slugs

The Venice Canals offer more than just picturesque strolls in the summer sun.

When the water is low, they also show off some of California's unique ocean life.

This past week, eagle-eyed canal-goers gawked at an influx of California sea slugs, also known as California sea hares.

These amazing (or gross, depending on your point of view) creatures, the Aplysia californica, are hermaphroditic, with soft bodies and an internal shell. The ones in these pictures and video are about a foot long.