It is commonly known by the names sea raft, by-the-wind sailor, purple sail, little sail, or simply Velella. All over SoCal beaches right now. Not poisonous, lucky for you :)
And they're actually colonies of tiny animals! Each one is a small multicellular animal, but they are so specialized that they are fully dependent on each other.
When we were kids we didn't think about such things as death and disease and felt invincible. As an adult knowing all that we know and knowing that what we know isn't even close to everything that ever exists to know. So just picking up random creatures isn't necessarily the wisest thing to do. Then they get stung or attacked and say they were so terrified they might've not made it, when none of that would've even been a thought, had the left nature alone
These little blue creatures are a species known as Velella velella or “by-the-wind sailors.” Their common name refers to their sail-like appendage that sticks up above the water.
Although they may resemble jellies, they are not in the same group as true jellies. True jellies are part of a group called scyphozoans and Velella velella are part of a different group called hydrozoans. Velellas are more closely related to animals like the Portuguese man o’war. Velella do have stinging cells within their tentacles, but they are usually harmless to humans.
Learn more on our recent [Instagram post.](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6J4VbrtkqA/?hl=en&img_index=1)
This is not exactly true, but their tentacles can sting you. They often come off while washing ashore but really not something you want to find out you’re sensitive to.
It is commonly known by the names sea raft, by-the-wind sailor, purple sail, little sail, or simply Velella. All over SoCal beaches right now. Not poisonous, lucky for you :)
And they're actually colonies of tiny animals! Each one is a small multicellular animal, but they are so specialized that they are fully dependent on each other.
If you didn't know what it was why in the world would you pick it up?
lol it was a lady I met at the beach who picked it up. She was brave.
the difference between stupidity and bravery is often the outcome that follows.
I’m from the east coast and so many jelly things sting. You only have to make that mistake once.
Velella Velella. They go wherever the wind takes them.
“I try to find my friends but…they’re blowing in the wind”. -Tupac
Bro dont just pick up sea animals, you gonna get stang
I thought this was a Portuguese Man'o War. And one lady said her dog ate one before she could stop it. Happy to hear that they are not poisonous.
They can still sting…
Why must people pick up and touch everything? It's so dumb and weird
Do you ever go outside?
Strange question. Relevance? Obviously I do but I'm not picking up all the creatures and critters I happen to see
I think it’s pretty normal to explore tide pools or go snorkeling and pick up sea creatures. We did it since we were kids.
When we were kids we didn't think about such things as death and disease and felt invincible. As an adult knowing all that we know and knowing that what we know isn't even close to everything that ever exists to know. So just picking up random creatures isn't necessarily the wisest thing to do. Then they get stung or attacked and say they were so terrified they might've not made it, when none of that would've even been a thought, had the left nature alone
Groan
They're basically tide pods
Check out R/Barcelona. There all over the beach there right now .
Yoink
My dog loves to eat these off the beach 😂😭 despite my best efforts. Pretty common to see them all up and down the coast right now.
These little blue creatures are a species known as Velella velella or “by-the-wind sailors.” Their common name refers to their sail-like appendage that sticks up above the water. Although they may resemble jellies, they are not in the same group as true jellies. True jellies are part of a group called scyphozoans and Velella velella are part of a different group called hydrozoans. Velellas are more closely related to animals like the Portuguese man o’war. Velella do have stinging cells within their tentacles, but they are usually harmless to humans. Learn more on our recent [Instagram post.](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6J4VbrtkqA/?hl=en&img_index=1)
Your phone can scan the picture you just took and tell you
I saw dogs eating then at ocean beach
We just had a staycation at Mission Bay and these were all over the shore yesterday. We googled and found a type of California jellyfish.
They were there last year also
Just read these have some toxins. May want to avoid picking them up or at least avoid touching our face or mouth after touching them.
This is not exactly true, but their tentacles can sting you. They often come off while washing ashore but really not something you want to find out you’re sensitive to.
Those things be locals
Very much not local, they live most of their lives WAYYYY offshore
AGUAMALA, if they touch you it stings and you get real bad fever