These Tiny, Clear Blobs Are Washing Up All Over Galveston’s Beaches

Watch out where you step if you visiting the beaches in Galveston anytime soon. The beaches are being invaded by these little blobs that look like clear little balls washing up on the beach. Sometimes they can be found just under the sand, while at other times they just sitting on the beach.

So what are these blobs? They are actually very tiny jellyfish.

Clinging Jellyfish Are Tiny and Clear

According to the Houston Chronicle, those tiny little blobs are actually referred to as clinging jellyfish. They are really small and clear, measuring just half an inch in size. While they may look like water droplets on the beach just sitting there, when you put them in water, they expand and start moving around.

In reality, the compact life forms are scientifically known as Nemopsis bachi. The species are a type of jellyfish commonly referred to as clinging jellyfish, according to Jace Tunnell, a marine biologist from the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Harte Research Institute. The transparent, gelatinous creatures are hydrozoans and are relatively small, their max size only half of an inch.

The YouTube video below shows what all they can look like.

According to Chron.com, clinging jellyfish prefer cooler water and washed up by the thousands along Mustang Island back in April. In fact, the Houston Chronicle spoke with one marine biologist who said the jellyfish could show up on Mustang Island after another cold front.

And if you were wondering, yes, clinging jellyfish can sting and the sting can be painful. So watch your step if you plan on heading down to the beach anytime soon.