Latest news with #ChannelIslandsHarbor
CBS News
24-04-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Thousands of "By-the-Wind Sailors" wash ashore Ventura County beaches
Thousands of velella velellas, more commonly known as "By-the-Wind Sailors," have been spotted all along Ventura County beaches in recent days. According to a Facebook post from Channel Islands Harbor, the jellyfish-like creatures have washed ashore at the harbor and along the Kiddie, Silver Strand and Hollywood beaches. "Velella velellas are not true jellyfish, but are related to jellyfish, as well as to sea anemones, corals and hydroids," the post said, citing the National Parks Service. "Velella velellas are a flat, oval-shaped creature, bluish to purple in color and three to four inches long." Some Velella velellas that washed ashore in Ventura County. Channel Islands Harbor/Facebook They earned their nickname because of the two-inch-high "sail" attached to their body, which leads them in whatever direction the wind is blowing. "When the sail catches the wind, the Velella will be blown downwind at an angle to the wind. This sets Velella apart from many other jellyfish, which drift with the ocean currents," the post said, noting that left-handed Velella are usually located in the Northern Hemisphere, and right-handed in the Southern Hemisphere. Though they do have stingers, its rarely harmful if a human is stung.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Thousands of tiny sea creatures wash ashore in Ventura County
Thousands of velella velellas, known as 'By-the-Wind Sailors,' have washed ashore recently on several Ventura County beaches. 'When the prevailing winds shift, such as during a storm, the Velella are driven towards the coast, where they often are stranded on beaches in great numbers,' Channel Islands Harbor posted on its Facebook page last week, along with images of the jellyfish-like creatures around the harbor and on Kiddie, Silver Strand and Hollywood beaches. Velella are bluish to purple in color and three to four inches long. They are not true jellyfish but are related to jellyfish, sea anemones, corals and hydroids, according to the National Park Service (NPS). 'The name 'by-the-wind-sailor' is really a misnomer for this little animal. Velella don't actively navigate using their sail,' the NPS said. The flat, oval-shaped creatures float on the ocean's surface and are most likely to wash ashore in spring or early summer, environmental scientist and professor at CSU Channel Islands Sean Anderson told the Ventura County Star. 'It is part of the wonder of our beach.' Anderson told the Star that the number of velella that wash ashore can vary greatly each year. 'They have evolved to move with the wind,' he said. 'That really helps distribute them and blow them all around.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
