They also help fight climate change 😮
Woman Discovers Mysterious “Sea Grape” on California Beach
A few days ago, while walking along a beach in Southern California, a woman named Sally stumbled upon a strange, gelatinous pink ball. Curious, she bent down to examine the small orb and even touched it, but couldn’t figure out what it was.
After some research, she discovered that she had found a salp, a fascinating marine animal often called a sea grape due to its translucent, grape-like appearance.
More Than Meets the Eye
At first glance, salps might seem similar to jellyfish, but they are not invertebrates. Despite their soft and transparent bodies, they possess spinal cord-like nerves, making them more closely related to humans than crabs or jellyfish.
Salps primarily drift in the ocean in long, chain-like structures, filtering seawater to trap small food particles. However, the one Sally found was alone, which happens during a unique part of their reproductive cycle.
During one phase, salps reproduce asexually, forming long chains of connected individuals. Later, these chains break apart, and each salp continues to develop on its own. Incredibly, salps can grow to their full size in just two days, making them one of the fastest-growing multicellular animals on Earth.
The Ocean’s Little Climate Helpers
Beyond their unique biology, salps also play an important role in maintaining ocean health. They primarily consume algae, which absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Once salps digest the algae, the carbon is effectively removed from the environment, helping to combat climate change.
If you ever come across a mysterious, grape-like blob on the beach, don’t worry—salps are completely harmless. Though they lack stinging cells, it’s best to leave them undisturbed and appreciate them as one of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures.