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By-the-wind Sailor

Velella velella

Description:

A floating colonial hydrozoan made up of many genetically identical cells that perform different functions. The creature drifts on the surface of oceans and captures prey with specialized tentacles that contain stinging cells.

Notes:

Found offshore during pelagic birding trip

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4 Comments

li_ivy98
li_ivy98 9 years ago

These are so cool, and super gorge ;)

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 9 years ago

Good to sea. I have only ever found them on the beach.. probably expired.

StirredMocha
StirredMocha 9 years ago

Interesting! I did not notice any on the nearby beaches but I did observe quite a few of these floating around. Perhaps this El Nino year that has caused warmer water is favorable to the sailors.

LaurenZarate
LaurenZarate 9 years ago

Very neat! I just saw an article about the thousands of these washing up on California beaches right now!

StirredMocha
Spotted by
StirredMocha

California, USA

Spotted on Aug 2, 2014
Submitted on Aug 3, 2014

Spotted for Mission

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