The beauty of the bluebottle… Did you know, bluebottles aren’t a true jellyfish, which are a single organism, but are actually a complex colony of 4 different types of polyps.
They float on the ocean surface and are carried by wind and warm water, like the Leeuwin Current, which flows south down the coast of WA. Still curious? Find out more from our fact sheet – https://marinewaters.fish.wa.gov.au/resourcebluebottle/
Do beware as they can sting! Here in WA bluebottles are more likely to be blown onshore in autumn and winter. Spare a thought for Eastern states beachgoers – where most bluebottles arrive on beaches for summer, just when people want to enjoy the beach!
A new prediction tool is in testing in NSW so that beach users can get a heads-up for when bluebottles are likely to arrive. Prediction tool research link – https://www.unsw.edu.au/research/hdr/our-projects/population-dynamics-and-behaviour-of-the-bluebottle