SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/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 recently found on La Jolla Shores, are usually found in sub-tropical to tropical seas, according to Scripps Oceanography researchers. They can sometimes be found along the coast of Southern California due to warmer waters flowing toward the shore…