Purple flags fly at Emerald Isle Beach due to sea butterflies

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. — Visitors to Emerald Isle saw red and purple flags flying at the beach on Monday.

Officials said the red flags warned swimmers that surf zone conditions were still turbulent, but the purple flags were flying because of a high abundance of sea butterflies along the shoreline.

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Purple flags are meant to warn beachgoers of sea creatures nearby.

Naked Sea Butterflies “Clione sp.,” a shell-less mollusk known as the naked sea butterfly, appears mostly transparent with orange-red color at its head, tail and gut. Photo courtesy Kevin Raskoff/Hidden Ocean 2005 Expedition: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric)

Sea butterflies are a type of sea snail. According to N.C. State experts, they are neither eggs nor jellies, and they do not sting.

However, they can get stuck in your skin.

No swimming is recommended during red flag conditions and officials said Ocean Rescue Lifeguards would continue to monitor ocean conditions throughout the day.

(CELLPHONE VIDEO: Shark spotted in Emerald Isle surf)