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By-the-wind Sailor

Velella velella

Photo by StirredMocha
Published on Project Noah
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37.4363, -122.521

Field Notes

Description:

A floating colonial hydrozoan made up of many genetically identical cells that perform different functions. The creature drifts on the surface of oceans and captures prey with specialized tentacles that contain stinging cells.

Notes:

Found offshore during pelagic birding trip

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
li_ivy98
These are so cool, and super gorge ;)
Mark Ridgway
Good to sea. I have only ever found them on the beach.. probably expired.
StirredMocha
Interesting! I did not notice any on the nearby beaches but I did observe quite a few of these floating around. Perhaps this El Nino year that has caused warmer water is favorable to the sailors.
LaurenZarate
Very neat! I just saw an article about the thousands of these washing up on California beaches right now!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
The Color Blue
Photographed
PublishedAugust 3, 2014

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