In July, 2019, two divers were swimming off the south-western tip of England. They hoped to see some rare fish, but what they came across blew their mind away. Crossing their water-path was a huge hulk of a barrel-jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo). The giant jellyfish was the size of a human being. It is a rarely seen species. Luckily, the divers – biologist Lizzie Daly and underwater cinematographer Dan Abbott – managed to film the mammoth creature.
The divers then shared the encounter in a Facebook video they posted on July 13. This was the time when Britain was running the Wild Ocean Week campaign to raise funds for the United Kingdom’s Marine Conservation Society. People has been invited to present pictures of any strange creatures underwater.
The divers actually saw the giant jellyfish emerge from the murky water. The fish is also called the dustbin-lid jellyfish. It is characterized by eight thick arms ending in tentacles. Its head is large and rounded. Put together, these features make it look like the lid of a garbage bin. Barrel jellyfish sometimes wash up on the shore.
The largest
Is the barrel jellyfish the largest of the species? No. That award goes to the lion’s mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata), the largest known species in the world. This coldwater jellyfish has 1,200 long, trailing tentacles. If you measure the length of the tentacle, an individual lion’s mane jellyfish can be as long as 120 feet (36.5 metres). The tentacles of a lion’s mane can sting 50 to 100 people in just a few minutes if it is let loose among a crowd. Most encounters cause temporary pain and localized redness.
On a July day in 2010, around 150 beach-goers at Wallis Sands State beach in New Hampshire in the U.S. were study by the remains of a lion’s mane jellyfish that had broken up into countless pieces. Thankfully it caused temporary pain and redness around the area of the sting.
The smallest
The smallest of the species is called Irukandji (Malo maxima). It is 1 mm long and 5 mm across the part that looks like a lid. Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) is the most venomous. It is found in the Australian coasts and is considered the most poisonous, deadliest and meanest of all the jellyfish. The variety of box jellyfish known as the sea-wasp or marine-stinger has been declared one of the most deadly creatures on Earth.
Their food
What do they eat normally? Jellyfish typically eat small plants, shrimp, or fish. They use their tentacles to stun prey before eating it. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you find yourself stung by a jellyfish, your best course of action is to remove any tentacles carefully with tweezers and soak the area in hot water. If a person gets a severe reaction or becomes unconscious after a sting, seek medical attention immediately.
Picture Credit : Google