Rare Sea Snails Spotted Along San Diego Beaches

Rare purple sea creature found on SoCal beach. Could warming waters be why?

A rare species of sea snail known as janthina was found at a SoCal beach. These creatures are known for their vibrant violent shells and the bubble rafts they create to stay afloat.

Rare, purple sea snails wash ashore on beach

SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) — Beachgoers in San Diego may have spotted some glistening, purple shells reminiscent of small gemstones in the sand recently. Scientists at the University of California, San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have identified them as a rare species of sea snail called Janthina. They are known for their colorful, violet shells and their ability to float thanks to a natural "bubble raft." The Janthina, which were rec…

Rare Sea Snails Spotted Along San Diego Beaches

"These purple iconic snails are rare among the shores," Scripps Oceanography PhD candidate Anya Stajner said.

Rare, purple sea snails wash ashore on San Diego beaches

SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) — Beachgoers in San Diego may have spotted some glistening, purple shells reminiscent of small gemstones in the sand recently. Scientists at the University of California, San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have identified them as a rare species of sea snail called Janthina. They are known for their colorful, violet shells and their ability to float thanks to a natural "bubble raft." The Janthina, which were rec…

Rare sea creatures wash ashore in Southern California

Visitors to a popular San Diego beach have recently discovered unique, shimmering purple shells scattered along the sand. Scientists at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography identified them as Janthina, a rare sea snail known for its violet hue and bubble-like flotation system. Typically found in tropical waters, the snails occasionally drift to Southern […]

PhD Student Finds Rare Purple Creature on California Shore

A PhD candidate at Scripps Oceanography recently came across a rare purple creature on the shores of La Jolla, California called a “bubble raft snail.” Bubble raft snails, also called janthina thanks to their scientific name (Janthina janthina), are marine gastropod mollusks that don’t typically strand on the beaches of southern California. Scientists believe warmer off-shore waters are behind these snails’ sudden appearance on California shores…