Thousands of Purple Sailors or Blue Sailor jellyfish – scientifically named Valella – washed up on the shores of Hallandale Beach, Florida, on Thursday morning. The jellyfish, which receive their nickname from the small sails which allow it to control where it moves.
While such an event may appear alarming, these jellyfish are often found washed up on shore in an event that occurs roughly every three years.
These jellyfish aren’t dangerous to humans, though the city wrote on their Facebook page that, “We are flying our Purple flag for dangerous marine life. These particular jellyfish are scientifically named “Valella” or nicknamed “Blue Sailors”. They are not really a dangerous type and are not known to sting.”
Image: City of Hallandale Beach Facebook
Officials warned of the potential that Man-O-War jellyfish could potentially be mixed up with the blue sailors, which can cause an intense stinging pain if their tentacles are touched, even if they’re already dead.
