Velella velella, or by-the-wind sailors, are small blue, jellyfish-like creatures that have been appearing along the California coast since early March. These hydrozoans, which measure about 3 to 4 inches and have triangular sails, use their stinging tentacles to catch plankton. They are not jellyfish but are related to them and can become stranded on beaches during storms and high winds. Sightings have occurred from Humboldt County to San Diego, signifying a seasonal occurrence associated with spring.
Unlike jellyfish, which drift and swim in ocean currents, velella are at the mercy of the wind.
Velella velella are hydrozoans, related to jellyfish and typically found stranded on beaches due to coastal storms.
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