Alt text

Porpita?

Description and Comments

Walking along Monarch Beach, I found a few dozen of these little guys washed up on the beach on 6/17/2014. The article I read stated that "the first reported sighting of Velella velella on a California beach this summer happened in Humbolt county on July 13" so I thought I should send this in since it was prior to that date. The point in the photo is a chopstick for size reference- I have more photos. None of the ones I found had the "sail" sticking up. I entered the beach at the beach club and walked north/up coast to the rocks where I go bird watching, so I don't know if there were more washed up along the beach down the coast.

http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/08/20/46102/jellyfish-appear-in-santa-monica/

Author

sld23

Type of organism

Jellyfish

Quantity

11

Latitude

33.48

Longitude

-117.73

Condition

Dead

Comments

jellywatch Thu, 08/21/2014 - 14:38

Especially given the location, that does look like a small Velella. The sail is on the other side, and you are seeing sand mixed with the tissues of the jelly. However, there is another similar species called Porpita that is round and more of a button than a sail on the other side.
Not sure why the article says July for the first sighting. We got a report back in March, but the large numbers of sightings did start coming in during July.
Thanks very much!

sld23 Sat, 08/23/2014 - 13:36

Yes, I just read about Porpita porpita and think the small jellies I saw were more likely this species. All were round and button-like and a bit smaller than the Velella that I'm seeing everytime I go to the beach now.... Always great to see something new and learn something. Thank you!