Who Spotted It and Where
A photographer by the name of Nikki Banfield was exploring a beach on the Scilly Isles when she found a jellyfish with Prey still in it. This jellyfish she found turned out to be the Mauve Stinger. This jellyfish is already exceptionally rare, but finding its prey undigested in it is rare. When looking at it, you can see the young mullet trapped inside the jellyfish.
More About the Jellyfish
The jellyfish in question, the Mauve Stinger, is a small jellyfish with a blue-purple hue. Its sting is quite powerful compared to its size. They start brightly glowing if disturbed. It has long tentacles and a wart-like structure which is on its “bell” that is covered in stinging cells. Amphipods, small crustaceans, tend to hang around the ring of the Mauve Stinger’s tentacles unharmed. The Mauve Stinger’s diet mainly consists of smaller jellyfish and sea squirts. Their warts are orange-brown but are covered by its dome-shaped umbrella. Their long tentacles can reach up to 3 meters. Many fish reside in the rings of jellyfish due to their safety however, if they get too close, they become dinner.
Why is this Happening
The Mauve Stinger is not the only jellyfish appearing on the shores of the UK. Many other dangerous jellyfish are appearing on the coasts of the UK including the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish, which can grow as long as a blue whale and has a dangerous sting. The Mauve Stinger specifically, however, is found in warmer European waters. The area in which it was found was not a regular place for the Mauve Stinger to wash up. The reason they are appearing so often is likely due to the heatwave going around the British Isles.
RELATED STORIES
https://www.jpost.com/science/the-natural-world/article-825093
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