Blue Sea Dragons are rarely spotted on beaches (Picture: Srivatsan Ramkumar/Environmentalist Foundation of India)
Hundreds of deadly and rare deep sea creatures have washed up on a beach in the Indian city of Chennai.
A recent industrial oil spill and nearby flooding are thought to have brought the bizarre Blue Sea Dragons and Blue Buttons to the surface.
The creatures usually live in deep oceanic waters, but cyclone Michaung’s heavy rains and flooding may have contributed to them surfacing.
Residents nearby have been warned not to tough the venomous animals, which are similar to jellyfish.
Blue Dragons are a rare creature found in the deepest depths of the ocean (Picture: Srivatsan Ramkumar/Environmentalist Foundation of India)
Srivatsan Ramkumar, a local resident and member of Environmentalist Foundation of India, said many of the creatures were dead – but others were still alive and wriggling.
He told The News Minute: ‘Hundreds of them had washed ashore between the broken bridge and the Ashtalakshmi temple stretch of the beach.’
‘While a large number of them were dead, I spotted some Blue Sea Dragons and Blue Button which were alive.’
The unusual creatures live deep underwater and are rarely if ever spotted on beaches.
People have been warned not to touch the mysterious creatures, which are venomous (Picture: Srivatsan Ramkumar/Environmentalist Foundation of India)
Both of these creatures can be extremely venomous, and the sightings have prompted safety concerns for the public. Prashanth E, Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s wildlife warden told TNM that residents were cautioned to not touch the creatures.
‘After cyclonic disturbances, flushing of the sea bed is a common occurrence. On Chennai’s shore, spotting Blue Sea Dragons is not a regular occurrence but they do show up once in a while. It is best not to touch them,’ he said.
Blue Buttons, often misidentified as single-cell organisms due to their resemblence to jellyfish, are small colonies of preadators which drift in packs throughout the ocean- stinging, preying and defending themselves while acting as a unified entity.
The Blue Sea Dragons meanwhile are an extremely rare sight, usually only found in the deepest parts of the ocean.
Their captivating appearance, with dual camouflage capabilities- using the blue side against the ocean’s hue and the silver side against the water’s bright surface- adds to its mystique.
These dragons are occasionally spotted in formations known as ‘blue fleets,’ presenting a spectacle for those who witness them.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
The creatures have believed to have been unearthed from the deep by a recet cyclone.