Strange Blob-Like Sea Creatures Washing Ashore Across California Coast

Table of Contents:

• The Mysterious Invaders: Velella velella’s Beach Party
• A Drifting Lifestyle: At the Mercy of the Winds
• Sting Alert: Not Your Average Jellyfish
• Sunfish Buffet: Mola mola’s Feast
• Ephemeral Existence: The Fate of the Stranded Sailors
• Additional Sources

The Mysterious Invaders: Velella velella’s Beach Party

California’s coastline is no stranger to unusual visitors, but the recent appearance of Velella velella, commonly known as by-the-wind sailors, has sparked intrigue and fascination among locals and scientists alike.

These oval-shaped, blob-like sea creatures have washed ashore across Southern California, from Ventura to San Diego and even further north, in a mass stranding event.

A Drifting Lifestyle: At the Mercy of the Winds

Velella velella are intriguing ocean drifters. Spending most of their lives on the ocean’s surface, these tiny sailors are propelled by small, stiff sails that catch the wind, making them travelers at the mercy of ocean currents and breezes.

Powerful spring storms often push them toward the California shore, where they end up stranded on beaches, creating a unique spectacle.

Sting Alert: Not Your Average Jellyfish

While Velella velella resemble jellyfish and are distantly related to the dangerous Portuguese man o’ war, their stings are considered mild and according to published reports, not harmful to humans.

However, it’s advisable to avoid touching them as they share the waters with other, more potent jellyfish. So, while they may look like harmless blobs, it’s best to admire these creatures from a safe distance!

Sunfish Buffet: Mola mola’s Feast

The arrival of Velella velella has created a feast for another ocean dweller: the Mola mola, or ocean sunfish. Some report observing hundreds of by-the-wind sailors being devoured by these curious-looking sunfish. It’s a unique opportunity for sunfish to indulge in an all-you-can-eat buffet!

Ephemeral Existence: The Fate of the Stranded Sailors

The fate of these stranded sailors is varied and somewhat tragic. Some will be consumed by predators like the Mola mola, others may be pulled back into the ocean by the tide, and the rest will sadly decompose on the beach, their sails drying in the sun. It’s a natural cycle that these intriguing creatures are subject to.

Additional Sources:

• The Hill
• KTLA
• REDDIT
• KXAN
• FOX5