A peculiar gelatinous sea creature was recently stumbled upon by a mother and her daughter during a beach cleanup in Wales. Chloe Hench, a teacher and author, was assisting in tidying Llanddona beach in Anglesey when she spotted the unusual organisms concealed inside a discarded coffee cup.
Initially mistaken for sea slugs, the bizarre, sci-fi-like blobs caught the attention of the curious duo. Chloe’s daughter even gently touched one of the creatures, causing it to retract slightly, confirming their aliveness.
After sharing a photo of the creatures on social media, an underwater photographer identified them as sea-squirts, specifically the Ciona intestinalis species, commonly found in shallow waters around the UK. These soft, nearly transparent tubular organisms can reach lengths of up to 20cm and although seemingly harmless, they are classified as invasive and can disrupt local ecosystems.
Described as “opportunistic colonisers,” these sea creatures are known to settle on various surfaces devoid of other organisms. Despite their potential ecological impact, they are visually appealing when expanded and filter feeding, forming large aggregations.
Despite feeling sorry for the creatures, Chloe and her daughter decided to leave them undisturbed in their makeshift coffee cup habitat, opting not to disrupt their apparent contentment in the confined space.
“It was a tough decision to leave them behind, but I didn’t want to disturb their peace,” Chloe expressed, noting the creatures’ apparent happiness in their small enclosure.
