New Zealand Seashore

DSC_5210 By-the-wind-sailor (Velella velella) a free-floating hydrozoan that lives on the surface of the open ocean. Their most obvious feature is a small stiff sail that catches the wind and propels them over the surface of the sea. In summer they may be stranded by the thousand on beaches, such as here. There is only one known species. Pakiri Beach *

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DSC_5210 By-the-wind-sailor (Velella velella) a free-floating hydrozoan that lives on the surface of the open ocean. Their most obvious feature is a small stiff sail that catches the wind and propels them over the surface of the sea. In summer they may be stranded by the thousand on beaches, such as here. There is only one known species. Pakiri Beach *

DSC 5210 Bythewindsailor Velella dried floats sails sea raft purple sail little sail drift hydrozoans stranded beach Pakiri Beach