Planet Earth is filled with awe-inspiringly beautiful creatures, but some should only be appreciated on a strictly 'look, don't touch' basis.
So much so, that an emergency medicine physician recently shared a general rule of thumb when it comes to wildlife in a viral Instagram reel that has been viewed more than 25 million times.
"If it's cute and colourful, don't touch it," YouTuber @doctorfayez said. "If nature didn't care to hide it, it probably doesn't care about you."
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The rule certainly applies to the vibrant blue glaucus atlanticus, a mollusk also known as the blue angel or blue dragon.
The tiny creatures, which typically grow no bigger than the size of a grape, are known for their beautiful blue hue which they use to camouflage themselves in the ocean.
They be found on the surface of temperate and tropical waters around the world, but have become increasingly common on beaches in recent years due to warming waters and changing conditions.
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However, while their minuscule size and stunning colour have left the internet deeming blue dragons 'cute,' @doctorfayez warns that they can actually be incredibly dangerous.
You see, blue dragons are a venomous creature.
He explains: "The main dish that the blue dragon loves to eat is the Portuguese Man O'War, which should be another red flag because that's also a venomous creature."
He continues: "After munching down on its favourite dish, it concentrates the venom into these tiny tentacles here, delivering an even higher dose of venom to whoever it stings."
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Since the blue dragon stores up the stinging-cells from Portuguese Man O’War, their sting can be several times worse than their fearsome prey.
According to Ocean Info, getting stung by one of these bad boys can produce various symptoms including nausea, vomiting, severe pain, redness, papules and fluid-filled blisters. Not ideal.
And, according to Jace Tunnell, the reserve director at the University of Texas’s Marine Science Institute, in extreme cases, people have even died from the blue dragon's sting.
"In very rare cases, there have been people who have died from them," he told Texas Monthly.
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"If you get stung in the right spot, and you’re not someone who can handle a sting, and you have a bad allergic reaction, something bad is going to happen.”
So, as tempting as it may be to pick up one of the little guys to take a closer look, it's definitely best to steer clear.
Bec Oakes