Local surfers and residents have reported that strange sea creatures are washing up on the bay area’s beaches. Thousands of these little creatures were discovered on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California. They’re also showing up on beaches in the South Bay.
The creatures in question look almost like a mussel but with a tiny translucent sail on top. What are they?
These strange sea creatures are called “by-the-wind sailors.” They typically live far out at sea, floating on the surface of the water and using the tiny sail to coast along.
Over the last several years, though, unusually warm waters have caused the creatures to move closer to shore. That has caused them to wash up on California beaches in amazing numbers.
Here at The Bay Area Telegraph, we’ve seen by-the-wind sailors coat beaches in Southern California, and another here in the Bay Area, too.
The good news is that these creatures generally aren’t harmful. Technically, they can sting, but they’re only hazardous to particularly sensitive people.
That said, you probably shouldn’t touch them if you see them on the beach.
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