Ecologists have discovered a population of the rare sea slug, Smeagol in Otago - just the fourth population of the gravel-dwelling creature in New Zealand.
Like its Lord of the Rings namesake, it is pallid, elusive, and subterranean.
Emile Donovan speaks to science manager at the Otago Regional Council, Tom Dyer.
The rare Smeagol sea slug Photo: Supplied/Otago Regional Council
