May 27, 2023
Come sail away with this Velella velella in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary!
Vellela vellela, or the by-the-wind sailor, is a small, unique species that has a vertical sail atop its float, helping it to travel. This sail is oriented at a diagonal to the animal’s body axis, allowing it to take advantage of prevailing wind currents that push the animal across the sea.
Scientists have found that populations along the California coast tend to have sails oriented to the right, while populations farther west in the Pacific tend to have sails oriented to the left, reflecting differing wind patterns in their respective regions!
📸: Douglas Croft
