Its been a quite a long time since we had a good energetic, high tidal waves at Neelangarai beach, Chennai, Tamilnadu,India. In the month of January and February Portugese man-o-war and Porpita Porpita touches the shore line abundantly when there is high tidal waves according to my observation for the past years. Today 30-01-2022 I had a Second lucky chance to encounter The blue button Jellyfish ( Porpita Porpita ). For the fisrt time 2 years back when I was doing grade 6 I had encountered the same specimen but, I was not famillar I had no idea on how to preserve the specimen. Later almost after 3 years I had a chance to preserve the same. Let's know more about its morphology and Taxonomic classification !!
Although it has the word "jelly" in its name, the blue button jelly (Porpita porpita) is not a jellyfish or sea jelly. It is a hydroid, which is an animal in the class Hydrozoa. They are known as colonial animals, and sometimes just referred to as "blue buttons." The blue button jelly is made up of individual zooids, each specialized for a different function such as eating, defense or reproduction.The blue button jelly is related to jellyfish, though. It is in the Phylum Cnidaria, which is the group of animals that also includes corals, jellyfish (sea jellies), sea anemones, and sea pens. Blue button jellies are relatively small and measure about 1 inch in diameter. They consist of a hard, golden brown, gas-filled float in the center, surrounded by blue, purple or yellow hydroids that look like tentacles. The tentacles have stinging cells called nematocysts. So in that respect, they can be like jellyfish species that sting but, not exactly the same way as a jelyfish does yet, It's best to avoid these beautiful organisms if you see them. Blue button jellies do not have a lethal sting, but they can cause skin irritation when touched. Blue buttons are hermaphrodites, which means that each blue button jelly has both male and female sex organs. They have reproductive polyps that release eggs and sperm into the water. The eggs are fertilized and turn into larvae, which then develop into individual polyps. Blue button jellies are actually colonies of different types of polyps; these colonies form when a polyp divides to form new types of polyps. The polyps are specialized for different functions, such as reproduction, feeding, and defense. This is all about this special species. We often visit beach for fun mostly during the month of January so, next when you visit don't forget to look for these perfect buttons !! and also take care of your safety.
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