What were the "snail looking" creatures on the beach last week?

[Chiofam]

I've got a question for all you long time residents. I took my 3 boys to Inlet Beach last week, and there was a purple flag up. I know that it's for "dangerous marine life", but read somewhere that it does not refer to sharks. There were other people swimming, so I assumed it was okay after not seeing anything in the water "dangerous". We went for a walk and came across literally hundreds to a thousand things that were on the beach and in the water that looked like snails, but not in shells. Can someone tell me what they are for future reference.

[kurt]

As far as I know all the purple flags this year have been for jellyfish. Usually this is the case unless we have red tide which there is no mention of yet this year.

Sharks are always present and they are color blind so they don't even know what purple is. :lol:

[Smiling JOe]

They didn't seem to bother me. They are some sort of sea slug, and I've been thinking that they look like they would taste great in a pasta dish, but I want to do a little research before I try that.

[organicmama]

They didn't seem to bother me. They are some sort of sea slug, and I've been thinking that they look like they would taste great in a pasta dish, but I want to do a little research before I try that.

I hope you are kidding.:puke:

[rdelong43065]

They didn't seem to bother me. They are some sort of sea slug, and I've been thinking that they look like they would taste great in a pasta dish, but I want to do a little research before I try that.


It would really depend on the type of sauce. :lol:

[yippie]

I hope you are kidding.:puke:


Gross. I am with you on that one! Just gross.

Purple flags mean Marine Life Present. Usually jelly fish. I haven't seen them fly a purple flag for sharks, however, I have seen the lifeguard herd people out of the water when sharks are present.

Smiling Joe, you don't cook at a restaurant do you? If so, please post which one it is so it can be avoided!!!

[rdelong43065]

Yes, the purple flags are there for the jellyfish. Actually when SWFD posts the flags, they have a choice of jellyfish, red tide or sea lice. They will appear on the SWFD web site along with the flag color. There will be a link you can go to for more information as well.

www.swfd.org

[Smiling JOe]

Purple flags mean Marine Life Present.

Slight correction, "Dangerous Marine Life Present"

No, I don't cook for a restaurant, but those slugs are probably very salty, and have the texture of clams. I bet they would be tasty if pan sauteed in a little butter. Yummy, if determined not to be toxic.

[Chiofam]

They didn't seem to bother me. They are some sort of sea slug, and I've been thinking that they look like they would taste great in a pasta dish, but I want to do a little research before I try that.

They bothered me, they were kind of squirmy. You should try them spread on toast first. ;-)

[Chiofam]

Yes, the purple flags are there for the jellyfish. Actually when SWFD posts the flags, they have a choice of jellyfish, red tide or sea lice. They will appear on the SWFD web site along with the flag color. There will be a link you can go to for more information as well.

www.swfd.org (http://www.swfd.org)

Great, now I have to worry about sea lice?? :bang: Thanks for the info really. I learn something new every day.

[jack S]

The slugs sometimes appear with the green algae. Sometimes the can be several inches long and have wings! They are plant eaters that live on the algae. Messy to step on when running the beach., but I have never actually been bothered by them ....... unless you count being grossed out !!

[NotDeadYet]

They are also called "sea cucumbers" :cool:

[rdelong43065]

They are also called "sea cucumbers" :cool:

Well then, they should be served with afternoon tea. :funn:

[jdarg]

So what are the annoying things that get between your skin and the edges of your bathing suit- then sting and itch? I can't see them- only feel them.:bang:

[peapod1980]

The slugs sometimes appear with the green algae. Sometimes the can be several inches long and have wings!
I can't decide if I should pass out or throw up.
So what are the annoying things that get between your skin and the edges of your bathing suit- then sting and itch? I can't see them- only feel them.:bang:
Nettles? Somebody told us that the day you were getting "stung." Wait, I thought that was you who said it. :blink:

[Chiofam]

So what are the annoying things that get between your skin and the edges of your bathing suit- then sting and itch? I can't see them- only feel them.:bang:

I know this one!!!:clap: SEA LICE!!! I think. I only know this because after somebody else mentioned them, I did my research. ;-) They get between your swimsuit and skin and sting you and you can't see them.

[jdarg]

I can't decide if I should pass out or throw up.

Nettles? Somebody told us that the day you were getting "stung." Wait, I thought that was you who said it. :blink:

I heard somebody else say "sea nettles" but I haven't heard anyone mention such a thing since.:idontno:

[Smiling JOe]

I heard somebody else say "sea nettles" but I haven't heard anyone mention such a thing since.:idontno:Sea Nettles are a type of jellyfish.

[ATJoe]

This looks like the appropriate thread to inquire about a couple of sea critters we saw washed ashore last week.

Sunday morning, 7/8, we noticed numerous round and flat, bluish green "things" at the wet sand line. They were about the size of a half dollar. Sea Anemone of some type? :idontno:

A couple of other days we noticed golf ball sized lumps of mostly transparent, gelatinous material at the wet sand line. No obvious tentacles but I'm guessing jellyfish? :idontno:

[BeachCat]

ATJoe:
Sunday morning, 7/8, we noticed numerous round and flat, bluish green "things" at the wet sand line. They were about the size of a half dollar. Sea Anemone of some type? :idontno:



The cute little blue critters are often called blue buttons. They are Porpita porpita--colonies similar to Portugese Man-O-War. Blue buttons can't sting humans so, they aren't dangerous.

[ladyj]

As far as I know all the purple flags this year have been for jellyfish. Usually this is the case unless we have red tide which there is no mention of yet this year.

Sharks are always present and they are color blind so they don't even know what purple is. :lol:
:funn: :funn: :funn:

[ATJoe]

The cute little blue critters are often called blue buttons. They are Porpita porpita--colonies similar to Portugese Man-O-War. Blue buttons can't sting humans so, they aren't dangerous.

Thanks, BeachCat. That's exactly what they were. Non-stinging or not, we decided to error on the side of caution and not step on or touch the little buggers.