By-the-Wind Sailor (species: Velella velella) in taxonomy (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Animalia > Cnidaria > Hydrozoa > Hydroidolina > Anthoathecata > Porpitidae > Velella > Velella velella (gallery)
Velella velella
By-the-Wind Sailor


©Barbara Banks: By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella) washed up on Mangrove Beach, Lizard Island, Sep 2016. This photo is taken from directly above so the "sail" is not obvious.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Order Anthoathecata
Family Porpitidae
Genus Velella
Species Velella velella

Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

    

Distinguishing features

Blue circular or oval-shaped hydroid colonies reaching up to 5 cm in diameter, with a transparent triangular "sail". They float on the open ocean surface and occasionally wash up on beaches.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

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