Millions of strange blue creatures wash up on American shores

Millions of strange blue creatures have washed up on rocky beaches from Oregon to California (USA) this spring, surprising many tourists.

They are Velella velella , also known as 'sailor of the wind'. This small animal has a fin that resembles the brim of a hat.

Tiny Velella velella has a distinctive blue color. (Photo: Getty Images).

Although it looks like one entity, Velella velella is actually a collection of hydra-class organisms. They spend most of their lives in the ocean, eating fish larvae or zooplankton. Velella velella is harmless to humans.

There are several theories explaining the brilliant blue color of Velella velella. According to Ms. Anya Stajner at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (USA), the color of Velella velella helps them camouflage by blending into the waves. Another theory is that this color protects Velella velella from harsh UV rays.

Velella velella is also known as 'sailor with the wind'. (Photo: Getty Images).

There have been millions of Velella velella washed up on US shores this spring. (Photo: Getty Images).

Marine biologist Julia Parrish at the University of Washington added that Velella velella lives for months and moves around the Pacific gyre. Typically, they move along the California coast to Central America, then across Hawaii to Japan and back.

Scientists are studying the link between Velella velella and ocean temperatures. In 2021, Ms. Parrish used data collected over the past 20 years to explore mass drifting of Velella velella and found that the condition is more likely to occur when winters are warmer Normal.

As the world's oceans continue to warm due to climate change, it is likely that more Velella velella colonies will wash up on shore and thrive at sea. It makes scientists like Parrish wonder whether these charismatic little blue creatures might have a more complex impact on the ocean than we thought. An example is Velella velella feeds on zooplankton, fish larvae and especially fish eggs so they can begin to affect fish species.