Ocean creature with blue tentacles?

Question

Today on the beach (NC), I found tons of these things that were washed up on the shore- they look like the cross-section of a tree trunk with neon blue tentacles surrounding it. They are small, maybe 1-2 inches. Anyone know what these are?

Answer 1

Hmmmmmm, could be alot of things but the first thing that came to mind is maybe a Portuguese Man o' War, search it up maybe thats what it was. Try giving me some more info , maybe I can find out.

Answer 2

I saw these also at Wrightsville.  I took pix and cannot find the answer.  They look like sea anemones- but the top part has small white parts instead of a mouth.  The "tree trunk" is the underneath side.  It' not a man-of-war or by the wind sailor.  I've seen a man-of-war on NC beaches before and they are very different.  They do not show up as any species found normally around here.  They could have washed up from the storm in the south atlantic.  Who knows where they orriginate from.

Answer 3

Velella velella? (Also: by-the-wind sailor)

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/si...

http://images.google.com/images?q=Velell...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velella