Sea butterflies are the flying snails of the sea. They belong to the scientific order Pteropoda – which means ‘wing-foot’ in Ancient Greek – because of the wing-like ‘foot’ they flap to swim.
The world’s oceans are full of sea butterflies and they’re such a popular snack for whales, seabirds and fish that they’re known as the ‘potato chips’ of the sea.
Cavolinia tridentata or sea butterfly Photo: Jean Claude-Stahl used with permission
