Sea creature identification

[rcheshire]

Does anyone know what this is? Large numbers washed up earlier this week. Heavy seas since and not a sign. The skirt seems to be gelatinous - the centre is firmer with a diagonal sail.

Link to gallery photo - http://synergous.com/photos/index.php?/category/3

[norm]

I'd say its a bluebottle.

Don't let it touch you as its tentacles have stingers :mad2:.

Cheers,

norm

[supernova1965]

I think it may be a Blue Bottle jellyfish

[MikeyB]

Portuguese Man o' War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Man_o%27_War) aka Bluebottle

[rcheshire]

I thought so too. But I don't think it is a POMW.

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

It isn't our classic familiar Bluebottle, it's Velella Velella, the Bye-the-Wind Sailor:

http://www.roboastra.com/hastcnidaria/hpac114.html

recognised by its thin diagonal sail and swirl body pattern. Except in the eyes, its tentacles are not thought harmful to humans.

The Bluebottle, or Portuguese Man O'War, is related, but has a gas-filled float.

Cheers

[rcheshire]

Thanks Geoff. I found it on a North American site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velella

Hydrozoans - carnivorous - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrozoan