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By-the-wind Sailor — printable fact sheet
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Animal Fact Sheet
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Date: ____________________
By-the-wind Sailor
Velella velella
The By-the-wind Sailor is a unique colonial marine organism often mistaken for a jellyfish, but it is actually a hydrozoan related to the Portuguese Man o' War. It features a small, oval, blue float topped with a transparent sail, which allows it to drift across the ocean surfac…
Did you know?
- Mass strandings of By-the-wind Sailors can turn entire stretches of beach bright blue, sometimes covering miles of coastline after strong winds.
- The By-the-wind Sailor is not a single animal, but a colony of specialized polyps working together. Its sail can be oriented either left or right, influencing which way the wind carries it across the sea. Despite their jellyfish-like appearance, their sting is generally harmless to humans.
What I learned
Draw the by-the-wind sailor
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