Those visiting Boca Chica Beach may have noticed dried up blue velella jellyfish, also known as by-the-wind sailor due to their boat-like shape.

“The sail actually functions like a sail and moves them across the surface,” UTRGV marine biologist Professor David Hicks said. “Once they arrive on the shore, they are pretty much done."

Hicks says the jellyfish usually wash up during the spring.

“They get pinched off the major current and are dragged over to the coastline,” Hicks said.

The by-the-wind sailor travels in groups with their relatives — the blue button and the Portuguese man of war jellyfish. 

Hicks says the by-the wind sailors venom can cause a slight sting, but they're harmless once they're fully dried out.

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