Mini Blue Tide
CREATURE FEATURE
by Liz Allen
February, 2018
An unusual mini Blue tide after the stormy seas earlier this week. Just 3 Bluebottles, but 11 Porpita, 13 tiny Glaucus sp. (blue sea slug), a few Violet snails (Janthina) and the tiniest Velella I have ever seen!
Physalia physalis (or Bluebottle)
Physalia physalis….apparently some colonies have their floats aligned 45*left of the wind and others at 45* to the right so that not all will be stranded together.This one must have been an unlucky one !
Porpita porpita has a disc like float & marginal tentacles for feeding.
Porpita porpita (underside)
These creatures living on the surface of the water are called neuston. Most are countershaded blue so when viewed by predators in the air they look deep ocean blue and from underneath they appear silvery.
Glaucus atlanticus ….ventral surface up when floating.
Glaucus atlanticus ..dorsal view ,floats upside down
Another tiny creature - Glaucous atlanticus - washed ashore, sometimes called a sea lizard sea slug, creeps along the sea surface upside down & feeds on Velella & Physalia.
Underside of Janthina ..showing its ”Bubble raft” secreted from the foot. They also feed on the Bluebottles.
Janthina (Violet Snail)
Velella velella (By the Wind Sailor)
Velella velella - has a disc shaped float which has feeding tentacles round the margin & a sail on top.
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