For the past few days, physalies, these siphonophores resembling jellyfish, have been stranded on several beaches on the Vendée coast.
According to
France Bleu La Rochelle
, these strandings of physalies were observed on several beaches this week, in particular in Jard-sur-Mer (Vendée) and Sainte-Marie-de-Ré (Charente-Maritime).
According to the Marine Natural Park of the Gironde Estuary on Facebook, "
these" jellyfish "(which are not jellyfish but a kind of cnidarian) can cause serious burns.
It is imperative not to touch them with bare hands!
»
.
“It is not an invasive alien species because these animals live in the water column, generally a little further south
,” adds the Marine Nature Park.
According to the Gironde Estuary Marine Nature Park, physalia can cause “serious burns”.
Facebook screenshot
This maritime species, also called "
Portuguese galley
" or "
sea bladder
", can be "
carried by prevailing winds to our European coasts, especially between November and January
"
,
explains Guillaume Eveillard, the biologist manager of the Aquarium. from La Rochelle to
France Bleu La Rochelle
.
"
They are magnificent, the float is electric blue, they are 20 to 30 cm long, the large tentacles are very pretty, but you really have to be careful of them
,
"
he added to local radio.
Read alsoWhich coastal towns have the most jellyfish on the beaches?
According to the local newspaper
Les Sables
,
its nickname "
Portuguese galley
" comes from
"its resemblance to the Portuguese galiotes, small round-sailed galleys".