Talk:Velella

Untitled
It would be a good idea to change the title to this animal's whole name: Velella velella. Can't figure out how to do it. Leuckartiara (talk) 21:39, 11 August 2008 (UTC)

Colonial vs Specialized
Statements at Animal Diversity Web contradict the information included in this article, in that the understanding of Velella as a colonial organism is outdated. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Cycleskinla (talk • contribs) 19:07, 1 August 2014 (UTC)

Measurements
In the Distribution and habitat section, it ends with a comment about animals washed up on shore. Do we care that they are measured in 'inches' deep, but 'kilometres' long? Should we stick to one set of measurements: English or Metric?? Westley Turner (talk) 23:03, 21 May 2010 (UTC)

Velella velella and the common common-name "sea raft"
When I was a kid in California, which was some years back, velella was commonly called a "sea raft" and I believe most people in that part of the world (and many others) still know it mainly by this name. This is the name used when velella was introduced to us in school as small children, for instance: Seashore Life by Harrington Wells, 1937 Harr Wagner Publishing Company (see pages 138 and 144 in the 1942 edition which states scientific name for the sea raft as velella). While many people know the common name "the sailer", I suspect even more people know the name "sea raft". My little biology contribution to this neglected little creature. Maybe someone out there is searching online and not finding this particular sea raft.. ;) Dee Wells

Colony or autonomous organism? Clear vs. Blue?
" For many years scientists believed each individual was actually a colony of specialized polyps, much like the Portuguese man-of-war. But now general biological consensus is that a single velella is an autonomous organism." -- Wildlife Spotlight: By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella), 2007, Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association.

Seems like a reliable source, but differs from our page's statement. Which is correct? Or is it in dispute? I'd never heard of them, but tens of thousands are presently washing up on the beaches around Cambria, CA. Locally they are called "blue sailors."

Some groups of the stranded sailers bases (floats) are mostly blue, some mostly clear, some a mix. Nothing obvious at Google or here. Any ideas on the clear guys? --Pete Tillman (talk) 20:13, 16 August 2014 (UTC)
 * To clarify: these are all live critters, freshly stranded. Apparently they all bleach out to milky white as they dry out & decay, but my clears are alive. Or just washed up, anyway.... Pete Tillman (talk) 20:07, 17 August 2014 (UTC)


 * "Biology/Natural History: This species is a puzzling one.  It has long been regarded by many as a type of siphonophore; a pelagic colony of hydrozoan polyps similar to Physalia, the Portuguese man-of-war.  Recent study suggests that, instead, it is a single very large hydrozoan polyp (Order Chondrophora), floating mouth downward and with a chitinous float and sail instead of a column.  If so, it is an extremely large polyp for a hydrozoan. " -- Velella Vellela by Dave Cowles at Bilogy dept, Walla Walla Univ.

Wiki Education assignment: California Natural History
— Assignment last updated by SeaOtters123 (talk) 00:07, 8 October 2023 (UTC)