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Thousands of Unusual Blue Creatures Appear on California Beaches
Newsweek ^
| 4/11/23 AT 12:09 PM EDT
| JESS THOMSON
Posted on 04/11/2023 9:22:10 AM PDT by Red Badger
Bizarre blue blobs have washed up en masse on beaches across South California—but they aren't jellyfish or Portuguese Man O' War as one might expect.
Photographs of the strange gathering were uploaded to social media by Point Reyes National Seashore, which stated that these creatures are actually Velella velella, also known as By-the-Wind Sailors. This was also backed up by Rita F. T. Pires, a research assistant at the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere.
"The species usually forms large agglomerations when beached, as pictured, so it seems it could be the case," she told Newsweek.
Velella velella are hydroid polyps (jelly-fish like creatures) that float on the ocean surface for their whole lives. They are usually only around 2 to 3 inches long and have a rigid "sail" on their backs that allow them to move in the wind, which can often result in them being blown toward land.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Travel; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: animals; bythewindsailors; cnidaria; cryptobiology; hydroidpolyps; marinelife; ocean; polyps; ritaftpires; sails; sea; sealife; velellavelella; vvelella
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Comment #1 Removed by Moderator
To: Red Badger
2
posted on
04/11/2023 9:24:59 AM PDT
by
teeman8r
(Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world or something )
To: Red Badger
3
posted on
04/11/2023 9:25:33 AM PDT
by
Chainmail
(Harrassment, to be effective, must be continuous.)
To: Red Badger
Hmmm... Looks like floating clams,,, (?)
4
posted on
04/11/2023 9:26:09 AM PDT
by
unread
("It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required." W. Churchill.)
To: Red Badger
More California Munchkins who drowned in the sea...
5
posted on
04/11/2023 9:26:24 AM PDT
by
Jim W N
(MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
To: Red Badger
6
posted on
04/11/2023 9:27:29 AM PDT
by
Ann Archy
(Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
To: Red Badger
They didn’t even get around to blaming global warming.
To: teeman8r
Send them to China and we’ll find out........................
8
posted on
04/11/2023 9:36:43 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
To: Red Badger
When I saw blue blobs I assumed it was in reference to a rat convention.
9
posted on
04/11/2023 9:38:10 AM PDT
by
chrisser
(I lost my vaccine card in a tragic boating accident.)
To: Chainmail
Like other Cnidaria, Velella velella are carnivorous. They catch their prey, generally plankton, by means of tentacles that hang down in the water and bear cnidocysts (also called nematocysts). The toxins in their nematocysts are effective against their prey. While cnidarians all possess nematocysts, in some species the nematocysts and toxins therein are more powerful than other species. V. velella's nematocysts are relatively benign to humans, although each person may respond differently to contact with the nematocyst toxin. It is wise to avoid touching one's face or eyes after handling V. velella, and itching may develop on parts of the skin that have been exposed to V. velella nematocysts.
10
posted on
04/11/2023 9:38:49 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
To: Red Badger
Distant relatives?
To: A Formerly Proud Canadian
12
posted on
04/11/2023 9:46:17 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
To: Red Badger
Spicy mustard covers the taste well...MM, MM! Toxins!
13
posted on
04/11/2023 9:54:56 AM PDT
by
Chainmail
(Harrassment, to be effective, must be continuous.)
To: Red Badger
Thx I needed a good laugh today.😆
14
posted on
04/11/2023 9:55:00 AM PDT
by
MAAG
(for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal)
To: MAAG
Smurfs in the Surf!.......................
15
posted on
04/11/2023 9:56:58 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
To: Red Badger
Where's Smurfette? Hubba, hubba!
Oops, sorry. I just ever so briefly 'identified' as pResident Grover 'Groper' Cleveland Biden.
</sarc>
To: Red Badger
"Meow! I'm a Smurf kitty!"
17
posted on
04/11/2023 10:01:41 AM PDT
by
Sirius Lee
(They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
To: chrisser
When I saw blue blobs I assumed it was in reference to a rat convention
Oh don’t worry, I’m sure they’ve already been registered for absentee ballots.
18
posted on
04/11/2023 10:07:59 AM PDT
by
verum ago
(I figure some people must truly be in love, for only love can be so blind.)
To: Red Badger
They wash up in Oregon fairly frequently. Must be a La Nina thing if they’re new to that area.
19
posted on
04/11/2023 10:15:52 AM PDT
by
gundog
(It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
To: Red Badger
20
posted on
04/11/2023 10:16:27 AM PDT
by
IYAS9YAS
(There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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