Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq’s bay became bluer than usual as a bloom of by-the-wind sailor jellyfish were spotted this morning.

The strange and beautiful species is known as a colonial hydroid, and though it resembles a jellyfish, it is not a true jellyfish.

 

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Its characteristic sail gives the animal its name, ‘by-the-wind-sailor’, where it uses its sail to catch the wind and travel on ocean currents, using its stinging tentacles to prey on young fish and other small animals while it travels.

They are at the mercy of the winds and so are usually found washed up in their hundreds, or sometimes even thousands, after stormy winter weather.

And though it doesn’t sting, it’s best to avoid contact as they carry a mild neurotoxin.