Half jellyfish, half slug? the strange sea creature washing up on the Washington coast to the surprise of marine experts
Local residents are seeing an increase in the creatures known as salps due to climate shifts, say local marine experts
The creatures have what appear to be green horns at one end and rows of muscles at the other end
Beach combers and marine educators near the Washington state coastline are finding something they’ve never before seen on the shores.
A gelatinous, nearly transparent sea creature that resembles a jelly fish and a slug, known as a salp.
The creatures have what appear to be green horns at one end and rows of muscles at the other end.
What is it? This gelatinous, nearly transparent sea creature that resembles a jelly fish and a slug is known as a salp
該生物外形酷似水母，卻在一端長有綠色觸角。
Odd: The creatures have what appear to be green horns at one end and rows of muscles at the other end
From what scientists know, the species shouldn’t be able to survive in the cold North Pacific, NBC News reports.
‘This was a first stumper for me in many years,’ local environmental educational specialist Alan Rammer told the news outlet. ‘I didn’t know what it was.’
The reason local residents are seeing an appearance of salps in 2013: ‘We have climate shift going on,’ says Rammer.
‘It’s moving north and inhabiting an area that wasn’t habitable for it.’
Salps move through the ocean by contracting, thereby pumping water through their gelatinous bodies.
The slimy creatures strain the pumped water through its internal feeding filters, feeding on phytoplankton in the process.
當地相關專家也稱，首次發現這種奇怪的海洋生物，暫不清楚其名稱。
Strange occurrence: From what scientists know, the species shouldn¿t be able to survive in the cold North Pacific
Increase: But local residents near the Washington state coastline are seeing an appearance of salps in 2013: 'We have climate shift going on,' says Rammer
An NBC reporter was able to find two of salps within a couple of hundred yards.
Commercial crab fishers are finding them in their crab pots.
So far the creatures haven’t caused any problems, locals say. However, fish and wildlife watch groups are keeping an eye on the increase of salps.
