Spindrift

A Spindrift is an odd-looking creature from Super Mario 64. Spindrifts have a spinning flower on their heads which allows them to hover around. They also have a yellow cone at the bottom of their heads. A green leaf-like cape tops the first half of the yellow cone. A Spindrift's head is just a white sphere with two eyes and a mouth shaped like a reverted triangle, making the face look like it is surprised at something. In the DS remake their heads now have a peach-yellow color, their flowers are somewhat bigger, their mouths and eyes are smaller and their mouths are now colored black instead of red.

If Mario jumps on the creature, the Spindrift will release three coins, and Mario will Spin Jump in the air. This technique could be used to get to other areas in new ways. Spindrifts appear in both snow worlds Cool, Cool Mountain and Snowman's Land. Spindrifts were supposed to appear in New Super Mario Bros., but were taken out of the final copy.

Trivia

 * Although they have not made an appearance outside of Super Mario 64 and its remake, in Super Mario Galaxy 2 there is a similar plant-like enemy known as a Twirlip that shares the same color scheme as Spindrift and attacks by spinning its petals.
 * Also, the Spring Topmen have a similar usage.