Once a month we will be sharing a marine species reported via the Fair Isle Marine WhatsApp group. This group is a space for community members and visitors to the isle to share any interesting marine finds. These reports also contribute to marine species records for Fair Isle to help monitor changes in biodiversity.
This month we have this beautiful blue coloured By-the wind sailor (Velella velella) one of many found at Muckle Uri Geo by Alex Penn. By-the-wind sailors are a type of hydrozoan, similar to jellyfish and siphonophores. They live at the surface of the ocean and drift with the wind thanks to their small triangular sails. As their sails are their only means of movement they are at the mercy of prevailing surface winds which can often result in mass strandings along shorelines across the globe. On their underside they have tentacles which are used to catch tiny prey such as plankton.
credit: Alex Penn
By-the wind sailor (Velella velella)