Thousands Of Mysterious Blue Creatures Have Washed Up On The Shores Of Southern California
By Natasha Kayes|Published April 13, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
After an unusually cold and wet winter, we are finally coming up on beach season and locals have been heading for the shores. Of course, there are some things we expect at the beach. Many of us take long walks looking for unbroken seashells, driftwood, sea glass, and even pretty ocean-tumbled rocks. But recently, beachgoers have been seeing something else entirely. Mysterious, jellyfish-like creatures in Southern California are drawing a lot of attention.
Strange but beautiful little vibrant blue-hued sea creatures have washed up by the thousands on West Coast beaches. The total number of these little blobs that have ended up on land is said to number in the millions.
Their official name is Velella Velella, but they are also known as By-the-Wind sailors because of the stiff translucent sails, or fins, they have on top of their deep blue “floats.” These sails allow them to move along with ocean currents and find more food.
The way they “sail” explains why, at times, they end up washing ashore in droves. Recent winter storms have brought with them strong, sustained winds that have carried the sea creatures into the shallows and onto the shore.
Although By-the-Wind Sailors closely resemble the much larger Portuguese Man O’ War, pictured here, these little creatures - measuring just a couple of inches - are not true jellyfish.
They are, however, related to jellyfish and have a few similar characteristics. Like the Man O’War, By-the-Wind Sailors are colonial hydroids, made up of a colony of much tinier creatures.
Like jellyfish, they also have stinging cells on the little tentacles that hang down when they are in the water, but their sting is not very strong as it is meant for plankton and other teeny organisms.
These jelly-like creatures are not dangerous to humans. That being said, their sting can irritate the skin, so it is best not to touch the underside of the Velella.
By-the-Wind Sailors feed on tiny plankton and algae, while they themselves are apparently a favorite food for the large Ocean Sunfish, or Mola. Occasionally, birds and turtles have been known to eat them as well.
The largest concentrations of these tiny little sailors have been reported in Ventura County, as well as Zuma Beach in Malibu, Huntington Beach, and South Bay beaches.
Have you been to the beach in Southern California lately and seen these jellyfish-like Velella velellas? We would love to hear about it in the comments! Looking for things to see and do in Southern California? Check out some of the best upcoming local events.
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