Photos by Donna

The remnants of Hurricane Delta blew across us and out to the Atlantic Ocean Sunday/Sunday night, with rain and 20-25 mph winds. 

Walking the beach the next day, I saw something unusual wash up on the beach in front of me.

Blue Button
(white center is approx. one inch across)

And then another one washed up, even prettier……

Blue Button 
(white center is approx. one inch across)

A few more waves and they were gone, washed back out to sea.  Aren’t they gorgeous?

I had never these before and researched to ID them and learn some info.

The Blue Button is not a jellyfish but actually a species of siphonophore, a group of animals that are closely related to jellyfish.  (A Portuguese Man O’ War is another siphonophore.)

A Blue Button is also known as a Blue Button Jelly, Disc Hydroid, Stinger, or Stinging Bluebottle.

Blue Buttons are found near the surface drifting in tropical and subtropical waters far out in the oceans, propelled by winds and ocean currents.  During bad weather, they can be blown ashore.  (That be Delta’s fault!) 

A Blue Button is almost flat, with stinging strands of hydroid surrounding it’s white disc.  Each strand has little branchlets off it that fatally stings its prey.  To humans, they do not give a powerful sting, but more of an irritation.