“Armades” of sea creatures that look like “aliens” are washed off the coast of Australia, due to the heat. Experts warn citizens not to touch them.
Dr. Lisa-Ann Gershwin, a jellyfish specialist, said bluebottles – a species belonging to the chipmunks – have been washed up off the coasts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania in “amazing numbers” in recent months because of Unusually high temperatures
“They are really strange, alien creatures. They have nothing to do with people, animals, corals or things we understand instinctively. “They just have their own kind of weirdness in such a nice way.”
A population of bluebottles on the move is known as the “armada” and the species evolved from jellyfish. Each bluebottle population floats on the surface of the ocean and consists of an “incredible number” of individual “colonies”.
There are individual colonies which are hermaphroditic, with male and female reproductive organs. Also, each autonomous part is responsible for its own function, such as feeding, stinging or reproducing.
When a breeze rises, it carries only a small number of colonies, ensuring that the entire population is not lost in a single gust.
The same for humans would be like every arm and leg would work completely autonomously, with each member having their own important job required to keep the whole alive, Gershwin explained, adding: “There is still a lot to learn about the biology of this “incredible achievement of nature”, as it was difficult to find where they came from and then to study before completing their life cycle “.
What is known, however, is that the complex changes caused by climate change are likely to create ideal breeding grounds for bluebottles, and some species of jellyfish are already breeding “faster than rabbits”.
If someone finds a bluebottle boiled on the beach, they should not touch it, pierce it or step on it, because even when it dies it can sting, Gershwin warned.
“These things hurt a lot,” he said.
Bluebottles secrete a tiny mucus in its tentacles, which is not visible and is not felt when touched, but contains thousands of cells that are “armed and dangerous”, as they inject poison into the skin during contact.
Even if one uses a stick to push such a creature, one will collect the tiny membrane that can then be found by a dog or animal if left behind.
There were also cases in which young children stepped on the creatures and the poison was thrown into the eyes of someone watching.
Gershwin, who once allowed herself to be bitten 80 times to try different methods of treatment, said that the pain is very intense and can be compared to being splashed with boiling oil.
“I let my curiosity prevail over reason. I paid for the section: I was in a lot of pain and I was very swollen. “I do not recommend the same to anyone,” he said.
If someone is bitten, fill it first, they should rinse the spot with sea water, before cleaning it with either very hot or very cold water.
Even if it does nothing, the pain will subside after 30 minutes.
Gershwin said people should not “run screaming” but take some time to appreciate the “fascinating creatures”.
Sources: huffingtonpost.gr, Guardian
