Mesmerising footage shows an exotic red sea slug that looks just like a flamenco dancer.

The beautiful video of the floating mollusc, called a Spanish dancer fish, was captured by a professional diver off the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea.

As the 'fish' drifts through the water, its vibrant red fins look just like a red dress twisting and turning in a dance.

SPANISH DANCER FISH The Spanish dancer fish is in fact a sea slug - and one of the largest on the planet. It can grow to more than 16 inches (40cm) long. Its bright colours serve as a warning to potential predators that it does not taste good. The dancer fish spends most of its time crawling on the surface of the reef. It if feels threatened it flaps its gills - parading its bright warning colours. This movement looks like a Spanish dancer, which is how it gets its name. Advertisement

'It was a single dive, and I had already to prepared to go back to the surface when I saw a Spanish dancer' said diver Vitaly Bazarov who captured the amazing footage.

'It's a very beautiful mollusc, and usually divers find them at night and in the bottom of the ocean.

'I saw this creature during the day and in the shallow water for the first time', he said.

The dancer fish spends most of its time crawling on the surface of the reef.

If it feels threatened it flaps its gills - parading its bright warning colours - as seen in this amazing footage.

The Spanish dancer fish is in fact a sea slug - and one of the largest on the planet.

As the 'fish' drifts through the water, its vibrant red fins look just like a red dress twisting and turning in a dance

The beautiful video of the Spanish dancer fish (pictured), was captured by a professional diver off the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea

It can grow to more than 16 inches (40cm) long.

Its bright colours serve as a warning to potential predators that it does not taste good.

'I was lucky that I had a video camera with me!' said Mr Bazarov.

The Spanish dancer fish is in fact a sea slug - and one of the largest on the planet. It can grow to more than 16 inches (40cm) long

The dancer fish spends most of its time crawling on the surface of the reef. It if feels threatened it flaps its gills - parading its bright warning colours

'The Red Sea is one of the best places for an underwater photographer, but to get the best shots it is important to dive alone.'

This movement looks like a Spanish dancer which is how it gets its name.

Spanish dancers are hermaphrodites, so all individuals are simultaneously male and female.

The slugs lay eggs on the reef and then leave them - they contain a dose of defensive chemicals that warn off predators.

Like their parents, their eggs are also brightly coloured which discourages potential predators from eating them.

This movement looks like a Spanish dancer, which is how it gets its name. Spanish dancers are hermaphrodites, so all individuals are simultaneously male and female

The slugs lay eggs on the reef and then leave them - they contain a dose of defensive chemicals that warn off predators

Like their parents, their eggs are also brightly coloured which discourages potential predators from eating them



