GALVESTON, Texas — A lot of Texans will be heading to the coast for a little sun, sand and surf over spring break.
Most people would just as soon skip seeing any sea creatures -- unless they're fried with a side of cole slaw.
One creature you might spot floating in the water and be tempted to touch is the blue sea dragon. Their bright blue coloring makes them strangely beautiful but experts say you should look, but don't touch!
"While these captivating creatures may seem enchanting, it's essential to approach them with caution," Galveston County warned Friday after recent sightings of the rare blue dragons.
Don't let their size and pretty color fool you. They are fierce little suckers and their sting can pack a punch.
Galveston County advises beachgoers to keep an eye out for purple flags because they signal that hazardous wildlife, including jellyfish, Portuguese man-o-war or stingrays may be in the area. Here's what all of the beach warning flags mean.
A tourist from San Antonio also spotted a few of them on the shore of Mustang Island near Corpus Christi last spring. Eric Yanta told CNN he scooped one up to film it, not realizing it was venomous. He put it back in the water and luckily, it didn't sting him.
Fast facts about blue dragons
- While "dragon" might conjure up images of the fire-breathing beasts in "Game of Thrones," these sea slugs are tiny, about the size of a grape.
- Their sting can be powerful because their favorite meal is the Portuguese man-o’-war. The blue dragons ingest, store and concentrate their prey's stinging cells to protect themselves.
- Symptoms following a sting can include nausea and vomiting, according to American Oceans. If you are stung by a blue dragon, it is best to go to a hospital for treatment, according to Ocean Info.
- The venom remains active even after a blue dragon dies.
They're also masters of disguise and downright sneaky. The vibrant blue coloring is on their bellies and they float on their backs so they blend with the water. Their backs are gray to help camouflage them on the sea surface.
Blue dragons are simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning they each have both male and female reproductive organs, according to American Oceans.
- After a pair mates, they will lay a string of about 16 eggs in the water which take about three days to hatch into larvae.
- Blue dragons are also known as blue angels or sea swallows but the scientific name is glaucus atlanticus.
- A group of them floating together is called a blue fleet.