Odd sea creatures wash ashore on Washington beach

[baddbob]

It started with a few sightings here and there. Now a strange sea creature, a salp, is showing up on beaches and in crab pots up and down the Washington Coast, raising curiosity and concerns.

Adam Miller, the skipper of the crab boat 'Willapa', said he was concerned after one of the gelatinous creatures came up in one of his crab pots.

"I don't know what is; I have never seen one before," said Miller, who added that other crab boat captains are reporting similar experiences.

Beach combers are also reporting them.

Marine expert Alan Rammer said he's received several calls from people asking what they are. He told us they are members of the tunicate family called 'salps' and are a harmless visitor from the South.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/world/article/363394/28/Odd-creatures-wash-ashore-on-Washington-beach

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

Eww, that one actually grossed me out, LOL!

Good thread -- it's grosser than a sea cucumber!!

[johnf]

i googled salp. I got pictures that are much more attractive. These ones are dead, and kinda milky looking.
Apparently they make chains. Although I don't have clear memories of the specimens I saw in college, it was pretty familiar.
I did a lot of looking at sea creatures live and in jars, in the northern california area.
More warm water persona down there.

[Corncrake]

I don't know if their arrival will threaten the indiginous species habits - taking their food - but if you google some of the images of them formed in chains they look stunning. Not gross at all!

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

Chains?

Weird!!! will take a look.

LOOK:

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRzCLznxy6OVG2rT42R_G4j9Qmqh5PvL9v-K2J9I_m_kfekDae20w

[Mulder]

Lucky the pictures don't come up on my browser - I was sitting down when I opened the story! I'm glad we've identified what the monster is!

[Fractalius]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jooz4gz264

They eat by filtering sea water (like many sealife), and lots turning up dead?
Either sea is filled with good food for them and they are migrating to where they can be caught, or the sea is becoming poisonous to them.

[Kristo]

I live in Seattle, WA US and heard about the salps on the local news yesterday. Very rare occurance, indeed. I'd like to go to the beach and see them myself.
Coincidently, David Sereda put a post on facebook yesterday, mentioning a swarm of thousands of dolphins swimming off the west coast of the US (link now removed ~????!!!!) ~ also an unusual occurance. Could this be a sign of something we have not yet been witness to? Hearts optimistic, Eyes wide open....