One of the worst feelings in the world is walking down a beautiful, sandy beach and then suddenly stepping on something sharp or squishy (gross). Lots of creatures live near or in the ocean, and sometimes you get a nasty surprise. But what would you do if you saw an army of green globs wash ashore on your local beach? You’d probably freak out, wouldn’t you?
When these strange spheres appeared one day, t people of Dee Why, Australia, did a little research before sending the entire world into a panic. These creepy-looking creatures spotted on the sand are not aliens, but marimo, a type of algae. Yes, they’re living beings, and they’re nothing to worry about. Just ask the people of Japan and Scotland, where marimo washed up on their shores in the past. Some, in fact, keep the marimo as pets. Take a look!
Marimo typically grow on rocks, but sometimes waves knock them off of the hard surface.
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As the waves continue to push them about, they usually become rounded like a ball.
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“Marimo” is actually Japanese for “bouncy plant.”
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They might not make very exciting plants, but since all they need is sunlight and water for survival, you can’t beat how easy it is to care for them.
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(via Pikchur)
Wow. What an interesting thing. That ocean is just full of mysteries, isn’t it? While I’ll admit they don’t seem like aliens, I don’t know if I’ll be taking one in as a pet anytime soon. (Actually, I guess they are pretty cute. We’ll see!)
