Advanced search

Answers


What is the name of this jellyfish?

I was in Isola d'Elba, an island off the coast of Tuscany, early last spring durring an enormous jellyfish bloom. At about mid-afternoon, before which the waters had been essentially clear of jellyfish, the area became completely swarmed all in about a period of twenty minutes. It consisted almost entirely of one species, which were obviously a type of comb jelly but whose description does not match anything I have been able to find on the net. They looked like Mnemiopsis, but were pinkish-orange in color (and relatively opaque), about twenty centimeters in length, and were covered in conicle, spike-like protrusions.

Among these were also a few individuals of a couple other species I have not been able to find information on. These include a type that was the exact size, color, and shape of a chicken egg, and another which was flat and resembled an elongated, outstretched pair of wings with a span of about 160 cm.

All of the species I have listed above were bioluminescent, emerged at the same time, dissolved easily to the touch, and did not sting (these being traits of jellyfish that live in the abyss, which therefore should not have been in shallow water to begin with). Unfortunately, I did not have a camera at the time and thusly can only describe them as best I can, but any information you might have on them would surely put my curiosity at ease.

sssss
 (no votes)

submit an answer
  • Member status
  • none

Last edited on: 2010-03-09 14:16:38

Categories: Animals.

Tags: environment, sea, jellyfish, mediterranean, deep, bloom.

 

Report abuse


1 answer(s)


Reply

nrpelipig says:

I read your description, and it reminds me of pelagia noctiluca, a jellyfish that comes to the coast of Italy and France almost every summer. The facts about these jellyfish is that they travel in smacks, and swim pretty fast from a location to another. (The fact that in 20 minutes those things swarmed the sea around the beach does not surprise me at all, thinking of these jellyfish.) I thought that they were a little bit smaller than 20 cm though, and they are not bioluminescent. However, I might be talking here of a wrong jellyfish.

sssss
 (no votes)

Tags: environment, sea, jellyfish, mediterranean, deep, bloom.

top

posted on 2011-01-19 13:40:44 | Report abuse


The last word is ...

the place where you ask questions about everyday science

Answer questions, vote for best answers, send your videos and audio questions, save favourite questions and answers, share with friends...

register now


ADVERTISMENT