Jelly Bloom as we launched our group of Sea Scouts yesterday!
These blobs of pulsating jellies are actually not true jellies (class Scyphozoa) but belong to a group of animals known as Hydrozoans. These hydromedusae are more closely related to Portuguese Man Of War or Velella velella, by the wind sailors that sometimes wash ashore on our beaches. Note the red eye spots that can detect shadows to help the animal avoid predators and orient.
Beautiful conditions yesterday, lots of young sea otters and seal pups. Our next Slough adventure is a low tide afternoon paddle on May 8th…..one of our favorites at www.bluewaterventures.org.
