Purple Sails aka velella velella

In the realm of beach wonders, velella velella are starting to show up on the beach. These small, purplish, slimy things wash up in great numbers in spring or early summer. Nicknamed "purple sails," this form of jellyfish brings out the seagulls to feed on them when they wash up, and they start to smell rather pungently after a while.

Once they dry, they lose their purple color and become translucent.

Purple Sails have clear a 'sail' that helps them catch the wind. However, when the wind blows out of the Northwest, these little guys get stranded on the beach. Unlike the more common jellies, the purple sails do not sting. They capture their food while drifting on the surface of the ocean with small, sticky tentacles. They feed on fish eggs and small planktonic copepods."

[tara]

Can you tenderly pick them up by the sail and place them back into the sea or are they all squishy and easily bruised? They look pretty fragile though they appear to need a helping hand from a caring species. ;)