Have you ever spotted the uniquely beautiful ‘By-the-wind Sailor’ jellyfish in Maltese waters?
This jellyfish is quite rare to spot.
All of Malta’s residents are familiar with the Maltese island's most popular jellyfish, the mauve sting ray, but have you ever heard or spotted this harmless by-the-wind sailor jellyfish?
This unique jellyfish is technically a hydrozoan that appears as “a single individual” as “it is in fact a colony of microscopic individuals”, ‘Maltese Islands Weather’ reported.
Velella Velella a.k.a. By-the-Wind Sailor 🌊 Belonging to the same class as jellyfish, this hydrozoan is completely...
Posted by Maltese Islands Weather on Thursday, 23 March 2023
The creature has a triangular shape that helps it float out at sea.
It is usually observed floating through Maltese water during this time of year but it hadn’t been spotted for the past two years.
That is until last February’s Helios storm hit Malta and Gozo. Here, it was spotted by ‘Noel’s Photos’ at Ramla l-Hamra bay in Gozo.
Back in the water after the storm which was named Helios. A beautiful beach more than ever. No sign of the mauver stinger and some velella velella adding beauty without adding danger.
Posted by Noel Photos on Saturday, 11 February 2023
Have you ever seen a ‘By-the-wind Sailor’ jellyfish?