Don’t Touch! Eerie Blue Buttons Are Back on Galveston Beaches

Beachgoers in Galveston, Texas, have been noticing something mysterious washing ashore on beaches this summer.

What in The World is it?

It looks unworldly like some alien blob from outer space is about to take over the planet. It is called a blue button (Porpita porpita), a hydrozoan similar to a jellyfish. However, each apparent individual is, in fact, another set of creatures working together as one.

According to Chron, it's described as a round, air-filled, blue disc with jagged edges, measuring no more than 1-2 inches in width. The outer part of the circular being is tentacles that catch food, according to Galveston Island State Park officials. They feed on plankton from the ocean because they are so light, they tend to drift with the ocean currents and wind, which, as of late, have washed up onshore.

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Blue buttons are hermaphrodites, which means they have both male and female sex organs; they can reproduce on their own. How weird is that? They are preyed upon by sea slugs and sea snails, and the blue sea dragon creatures. See 7 Astounding Facts About the Blue Button Jellyfish; it will blow your mind!

The round blue button keeps it afloat while searching for food. Visitors on the beach have admired their beauty, but it's best not to touch them because they have been known to sting and cause mild skin irritation. The good news is that they are not poisonous or harmful.

So, if you're planning to go to the beach this summer in Texas, be on the lookout and watch where you step.