Velella velella (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms in the area: Velella nimbosa —Barattini & Ureta 1961 [polyp]; Velella spirans —Moyano & Valdovinos 1984 p. 173-174 [polyp].

Distribution in South America: polyp—Pacific Ocean, Chile, at 41.516°S 73.683°W (Moyano & Valdovinos 1984 p. 173-174); Atlantic Ocean, Brazil to Argentina, from 0° (Equator) to 5°S, from 23°S to 46°S (Barattini & Ureta 1961; Alvariño 1981; Mianzan & Girola 1990; Migotto et al. 2002; Failla-Siquier 2006; Genzano et al. 2008a; Silveira & Morandini 2011; Lindner et al. 2014).

Habitat: polyp—pleustonic and oceanic species (Alvariño 1981); occasionally large populations stranded on beaches.