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Researchers chance upon a colony of sea dragons and other planktonic species at Visakhapatnam coast
Hundreds of sea dragons or sea lizards (Glaucilla marginata) along with blue button (Porpita porpita), by-the-wind sailor (Velella velella) had come towards the shore during low tide.
While the organisms are occasionally seen along the East Coast during low tides, what was unusual this time was the much smaller size of these planktonic species of the marine world.
Sea dragons or Sea lizards
The most well-known example is the blue sea dragon (Glaucus atlanticus).
Which has a striking blue color and floats upside down at the ocean's surface using air bubbles trapped in its appendages.
Blue Button (Porpita porpita)
The blue button, also known as the Portuguese man-of-war sailor or sea-gooseberry, is a colonial marine organism, scientifically named Porpita porpita.
It's important to clarify that despite its common name, the blue button is not a true jellyfish.
It belongs to the phylum Cnidaria, but unlike jellyfish, it's a colonial hydroid.
This means it's a collection of individual polyps, each specialized for a specific function like feeding, defense, or reproduction, working together as a single unit.
The by-the-wind sailor, also known as the purple sail, little sail, or sea raft, is a free-floating colonial hydrozoan (phylum Cnidaria) with a fascinating appearance and unique way of life.
Habitat: Found in warm, temperate, and tropical waters across the globe, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Appearance: Oval or circular, blue-purple colored float made of gas-filled chambers, providing buoyancy and keeping the colony afloat.
A single, triangular sail, diagonally positioned across the top of the float, that catches the wind and propels the colony.
Blue Button (Porpita porpita)
Tentacles hanging from the underside, used for feeding and defense, similar to the blue button but generally less potent.
Size: Typically ranges from 2.5 to 7.5 cm (1 to 3 inches) in diameter.
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