Home / Environment / Rare Blue 'Sailors' Wash Ashore in Devon
Rare Blue 'Sailors' Wash Ashore in Devon
3 Sep
Summary
- By-the-wind sailors, Velella velella, are appearing in large numbers this summer.
- These marine hydrozoans use a small sail to catch the wind for movement.
- Their bright blue color comes from pigments that offer UV protection.
By-the-wind sailors, scientifically known as Velella velella, have been observed in unusually large numbers along the Devon coast this summer. These fascinating marine hydrozoans, composed of multiple polyps, possess a unique characteristic: a small, upright 'sail' that catches the wind, enabling them to travel with ocean currents. This unusual mode of transportation has earned them their evocative common name.
The striking blue coloration of their floating discs is a result of the pigment astaxanthin. This pigment not only aids in camouflage against the sea's surface but also functions to absorb and reflect damaging ultraviolet radiation, a crucial adaptation for an organism living at the ocean's surface, especially during periods of high temperatures.
While typically an occasional visitor to UK shores, mass strandings of by-the-wind sailors have been noted elsewhere this summer, including the Welsh coast and St Bees in Cumbria. Their increased presence further inshore, compared to their usual appearance during stormy winter weather, may be attributed to prevailing calmer waters and favorable wind conditions. This particular sighting in Appledore found a single, listless specimen resting on the beach.
