Weird sea creature washes up on Australian beach. What is it?

A blue sea creature washed up on a beach in Australia's Gold Coast last week and was filmed moving on the sand by beachgoer Lucinda Fry.

The strange but beautiful animal was identified as a blue dragon after it was spotted on Broadbeach.

Griffith University marine invertebrates expert Kylie Pitt said the sea slug can sting.

See also: Fisherman finds 'alien' sea creature with 100 tentacles

"I have handled them before and wasn't stung, but I would not recommend anyone pick them up because they can have a painful sting," she told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

The soft-bodied creature (Glaucus atlanticus) sheds its shell and floats upside down on the surface tension of the water, where it is carried along by the winds and ocean currents.

See also: Strange sea creature washes up in aftermath of Japan tsunami

Picking up a blue dragon can result in a very painful and potentially dangerous sting for humans.

Professor Pitt added: "They are really weird. The Glaucus eat blue bottles."

Last month, a British tourist was left scratching his head after discovering his Corfu holiday pictures had been photobombed by a mysterious sea creature.

Harvey Robertson was on a boat cruise when he put his camera over the side to take pictures of the sea.

He later discovered he'd photographed more than the pretty water, and was shocked to see the weird creature in his snaps.

The 52-year-old said: "I have no idea what it could have been, I have never seen anything like it."

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