We've all heard of dogs resembling their owners, but what about... sea slugs resembling very, very expensive couture gowns?
The surprisingly accurate parallel was drawn by the NIWA communications team, who on Wednesday shared a series of celebrities at the Met Gala alongside their colourful invertebrate counterparts. Yes, this is one of the weirder stories I've written in my time.
It turns out that sea slugs and nudibranchs - soft-bodied marine gastropod molluscs - have been serving under-the-sea looks for many, many years. Appearing in an array of striking colours, patterns, textures, shapes and sizes, sea slugs are arguably the campest creatures of the marine world. Plus, nudibranchs have been parading their shell-less bodies for centuries - naked dresses ain't got nothing on them.
Their likeness to high fashion didn't escape the attention of NIWA, who went about finding a slug for several ensembles that were seen at the Met Gala on Monday evening (local time) - including those worn by American Horror Story star Sarah Paulson, Wicked's Cynthia Erivo, and Ed Sheeran. Sheeran's was a particular standout; the janolus mokohinau's blue hue perfectly complemented the singer's powder blue suit, while its orange-tipped tentacles perfectly complemented the singer's, um, head.
"Who wore it better? Celebs at the Met Gala or these fabulous sea slugs?" the NIWA team captioned the post on Facebook, which at the time of writing has amassed almost 800 likes and over 550 shares.
"Fashion forward sea slugs and nudibranchs rock vibrant colours and bold patterns on the underwater catwalk every day. Who needs a designer outfit when you've got frilly gills?"
Whoever is on their comms team needs a pay rise.
Unfortunately for the celebrities, the sea slugs were a clear favourite among the commenters - some of whom were also from international waters.
"This is peak social media genius," one declared, while a second added: "Fabulous (I'm referring to the sea slugs, of course)."
"They have such a likeness, I'm so impressed," said another, with a fourth crowing: "This is actually hilarious."
Another was quick to tag the satirical talk show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, which made headlines last year after the US-based comedian chose to cover New Zealand's Bird of the Century competition. In his segment on the local competition, Oliver launched an "alarmingly aggressive" campaign for the pūteketeke - which was eventually declared the winner.
NIWA, New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, is a Crown Research Institute that explores a broad range of disciplines in the environmental sciences. If this story has piqued your interest in sea slugs and nudibranchs, the institute also has a guide to Aotearoa's very own community of gastropod molluscs online.
