GALVESTON, Texas — Beachgoers along the Texas Gulf Coast are encountering something strange and stunning washing ashore: the Blue Button, or Porpita porpita. It looks like a jellyfish, but according ...

Blue Buttons grow to about 2 inches wide and are often mistaken for jellyfish. They resemble the “by-the-wind sailor” (Velella velella), but lack the sail and have longer tentacles.

The official name for the Blue Button is Porpita porpita. It's in the shape of a disk that floats on top of the water. You'll ...