– Unusual jellyfish-like sea creatures known as Velella velellas have been washing up on beaches in Southern California recently.
– Velella velellas are normally found floating on the surface of open ocean waters. They have oval, disc-shaped bodies with a vertical “sail” rising from the center.
– Strong spring storms have likely pushed these creatures closer to shore and onto beaches, providing an “all-you-can-eat buffet” for other fish like Mola mola that prey on them.
– They have been spotted not only in ocean waters but on beaches in areas like Newport Beach over the past few days.
– While they resemble jellyfish, Velella velellas are actually a colonial organism related to Portuguese man o’ wars.
– They use tentacles lined with stinging cells to catch plankton but their stings are generally harmless to humans, unlike some other jellyfish.
– Velella velellas are moved around by ocean currents and winds and typically remain ashore only temporarily before being pulled back out to sea by the tides.
Source: pix11
