This week, Mustang and Padre Islands are hosting an unusual guest: Sea Whip Soft Coral. These fascinating marine organisms are washing up in large clumps, a discovery I made during my weekly Beachcombing survey. Their vibrant orange-yellow hue quickly fades when left on the beach, as the coral鈥檚 tiny yellow polyps dry up and fall off, revealing their striking black, wire-like skeletons.
It鈥檚 no wonder beachgoers often mistake these sea whip skeletons for man-made debris, such as discarded rope or fishing gear. However, they are anything but trash. These soft corals are vital to the Gulf of Mexico鈥檚 ecosystem, providing shelter and feeding grounds for a variety of marine species.
A fun fact about sea whips is that they often host tiny hitchhikers, like the sea whip simnia snail. These small, brilliantly camouflaged snails live and feed exclusively on sea whip coral, blending in so seamlessly that they鈥檙e almost invisible to the untrained eye. I often find these snails on fresh sea whip that has just washed up.
Strong currents, storms, or natural die-offs can dislodge the coral, bringing them to our beaches. When sea whips wash ashore, many times they will be attached to a shell or hard object, which is how they are able to grow on the sea floor. Sometimes I鈥檒l find several sea whips attached to a single sand dollar test. Many times, the large bundles of sea whip that wash up on the beach will be mixed with fishing gear, string, and other man-made debris, making it even more like something not natural.
In their natural habitat, they filter nutrients from the water, support biodiversity, and contribute to the health of the Gulf鈥檚 intricate food web. Since they are living animals, they can have quite the unique smell after sitting on the beach for several days.
Next time you鈥檙e beachcombing along Mustang or Padre Island, take a closer look at the 鈥渞ope鈥 in the wrack line鈥攊t might just be a piece of the Gulf鈥檚 vibrant underwater garden. Happy beachcombing.
The tides will be low all day this weekend with the lowest tide being around noon, making for excellent beachcombing with the sun right overhead.
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