What are they? Where’d they come from? Are they dangerous?
Along the California coast, strange blue sea creatures are washing ashore in droves.
Velella velella, also known as By-the-Wind Sailors, have been spotted at popular beaches and surf spots from NorCal, to SoCal, and everywhere in between. But what exactly are these creatures? Where did they come from? Are they dangerous to humans?
It turns out, these creatures are harmless. Although they resemble the poisonous Portuguese Man of War, they pose no threat to humans. Velella velella are not in the jellyfish family, but they’re related. They’re something called “hydroid polyps.” And actually, they’re quite common, popping up on beaches across the globe when strong winds – like from the storms recently seen in California – push them ashore.
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For more on the creatures, the Point Reyes National Seashore posted these insights:
“Velella velella are flat, oval-shaped hydroid polyps (cousins of the jellyfish) that live in the open ocean but are often seen washed up on beaches in Point Reyes National Seashore, in the spring and early summer months when strong winds push them ashore.
“They have a firm and upright triangular sail attached to their body which causes them to be caught up by the wind and blown across the surface of the water, giving them their name ‘By-the-Wind Sailors.’ Don’t worry about those little blue tentacles that hang from their body! These tentacles don’t sting humans but will gather up plenty of zooplankton or fish eggs for them to eat.
“You may come across a fresh wash-up of Velella, tinging the stretch of shoreline blue, but if they’ve been there a while, they will look like crinkly and dry ovals of cellophane. So, if you happen to be out for a stroll and encounter these brilliant blue creatures, promise that you’ll jump up and down repeatedly shouting ‘Velella velella!’”
Photo: Dashel Pierson
While the tentacles on Velella Velellas are relatively harmless to humans, they can cause slight irritation. So, if you do encounter these sapphire sea creatures at your local beach, and you decide to pick one up, be careful when touching your face and eyes afterwards.
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