lots of blue marine life on Destin beach

:welcome: Glad to have you on board. As for the sea creature, ??? Post often.

:welcome:

They were probably Portugese Man Of War. We have purple flags out for them in SoWal.

Kurt is right on target. There are many of them on the beach which have dried up and are now completely clear. They look like a shell imprint on plastic with a little handle. I am not sure if the toxins are still in the remaining part of the jellyfish, but I wouldn't be playing to much with them.

:welcome: Amazing photo, Kurt. I've never seen one that looks like that, though I have seen the clear ones on the beach, usually small ones now and then.

thank you!!! these things were flat and small 1/2 inch hairs around the edges, and clear in the center with a clear thin (fin) straight up the blue rim was 1/2 inch in diameter clear but circular designs in the center and the thing sticking up. I didnt touch them just looked at them, no long tenicals,and there were a few small ones about the size of a quarter, and the rest the size of an optical mouse for a pc, only flat. they all looked fresh and not dried up. There were probably 100 or so. Thanks agian for the info. Does everybody have to be millinares to live on the gulf coast? how does an average person afford housing on the emerald isle. Thanks again for all the responses, I took pix of them and if I get them developed in a couple of days I will try to post it.

thank you!!! these things were flat and small 1/2 inch hairs around the edges, and clear in the center with a clear thin (fin) straight up the blue rim was 1/2 inch in diameter clear but circular designs in the center and the thing sticking up. I didnt touch them just looked at them, no long tenicals,and there were a few small ones about the size of a quarter, and the rest the size of an optical mouse for a pc, only flat. they all looked fresh and not dried up. There were probably 100 or so. Thanks agian for the info. Does everybody have to be millinares to live on the gulf coast? how does an average person afford housing on the emerald isle. Thanks again for all the responses, I took pix of them and if I get them developed in a couple of days I will try to post it.

Those which you describe finding on the beach are what Kurt posted in the photo. When I say dried up, I mean they lost the color, the airpocket deflated to a thin fin shape, the tentacles are gone. The remains are not brittle, but instead are very plyable and feel a bit like latex.

Actually, the little sea creatures that are have washed up are called velella velella. Velella velella is the genus/species name, but that is what they commonly go by also. They are blue, but become clear after they die. They are related to the Portuguese Man o' War. Each velella velella is actually a colony of separate organisms and they float on the water with a "sail" that catches the wind. The velella velella has a very mild sting.

Actually, the little sea creatures that are have washed up are called viella viella. Viella viella is the genus/species name, but that is what they commonly go by also. They are blue, but become clear after they die. They are related to the Portugues Man o' War. Each viella viella is actually a colony of separate organisms and they float on the water with a "sail" that catches the wind. The viella viella has a very mild sting.

Interesting.:scratch: Where can I find more info on the viella viella? I can seem to find any info on the web regarding viella viella.

Interesting.:scratch: Where can I find more info on the viella viella? I can seem to find any info on the web regarding viella viella.

Umm, I just edited by previous post because I mispelled it. It is velella velella. Just search it on google. There are tons of pictures, etc. My kids and I figured out what they were by doing some web research on "Jellyfish in the Gulf of Mexico." However, you don't need to do that. As I said there are many references on "velella velella."

Remains of a By-the-wind sailor (Velella velella)
Godrevy 28th Sept 2004
Photograph by David Williams

This is definitely what I was seeing today. Thanks for the info CCK!

Remains of a By-the-wind sailor (Velella velella)
Godrevy 28th Sept 2004
Photograph by David Williams

This is definitely what I was seeing today. Thanks for the info CCK!

No problem. Thanks for posting the pic. I wanted to post one, but I'm not so good at it--it would have taken me forever to remember how to do it. ;-)

Ok first off those man of war things are GROSS and secondly :welcome: to toesinthesand !!!!!! once you discover this area you will not want to go anywhere else!!!!!!!! 😀

YIKES! :shock:
I had no idea Man O' Wars were found in SoWal. We've only encountered comb and moon jellies. Guess we've been lucky.

😱 I was bemoaning the fact I couldn't get to the beach yesterday and now I am glad! I did see a purple flag yesterday and another day this week. Looks like the velella velella are coming ashore for Spring Break to get a cheeseburger cheeseburger!

hey, while we're on the topic, what happens if you step on one of the moon jellies?

Thanks for the pics & info peeps! I find this interesting and wouldn't mind finding them when I'm there. Sometimes the beach is too "sterile". I like finding interesting critters and things. 😀

Thanks for the pics & info peeps! I find this interesting and wouldn't mind finding them when I'm there. Sometimes the beach is too "sterile". I like finding interesting critters and things. 😀

If you like finding interesting things on the beach, try Seagrove Beach. Yesterday while on a short walk, I found a Nitrous Oxide canister, plastic shovel, pair of goggles, fishing line, beer cans, plastic tops, cigarette butts, straws, plastic sheething, some parts to something:idontno:, part of a styrofoam container, plenty of Velella Velella, Sargassum Grass, etc. I am sure that I am leaving out some things. I made four trips to the garbage can walking less than 1/4 mile. Next time I go to Seagrove, I will bring my gloves and Hefty garbage bag for my short walk on the beach.

If you like finding interesting things on the beach, try Seagrove Beach. Yesterday while on a short walk, I found a Nitrous Oxide canister, plastic shovel, pair of goggles, fishing line, beer cans, plastic tops, cigarette butts, straws, plastic sheething, some parts to something:idontno:, part of a styrofoam container, plenty of Velella Velella, Sargassum Grass, etc. I am sure that I am leaving out some things. I made four trips to the garbage can walking less than 1/4 mile. Next time I go to Seagrove, I will bring my gloves and Hefty garbage bag for my short walk on the beach.

:pissed:I don't understand why some folks treat such a beautiful place in such a shoddy manner! :idontno:

Some days I just want to stick my head in the sand. For a while, I thought I was in PCB. At least the beautiful water and calming waves balances it out somewhat.