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Date Published: 28/07/2023

Giant jellyfish washes up on Mazarron beach

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The enormous specimen was pulled from the water at Bahía de Mazarrón beach

Giant jellyfish washes up on Mazarron beach

Bathers on the Bahía de Mazarrón beach had quite a scare on Wednesday afternoon, July 26, when they came across a colossal jellyfish, estimated to weigh between 10 and 15 kilograms, lying close to the shore.

The Civil Protection Service confirmed that the jellyfish was dead and that it was a Rhachostoma luteum, a species well-known for growing to enormous sizes.

A group of swimmers pulled the giant jellyfish away from the water and it was later removed from the Mazarrón beach.

Although these jellyfish tend to terrify bathers because of their sheer size, they actually pose no threat to humans. The name comes from the Greek ‘rhizó’, which means ‘root, and ‘stoma’, which means ‘mouth. This is because, unlike many other jellyfish species, Rhizostoma luteum has several creeping tentacles, resembling plant roots, and a prominent mouth.

These medusae can reach up to 60 centimetres in diameter, making them very easy to spot in the water even though they are usually pale or white in colour. Not the most attractive of sea creatures, the Rhizostoma luteum has a series of white warts all over its bell, under which is eight blue branched tentacles.

They’re common throughout the Mediterranean region and have also been found in the eastern Atlantic, from Portugal to Senegal.

While the jellyfish can sting, its venom isn’t considered dangerous and usually only causes some mild skin irritation and redness. However, in rare cases, a sting can lead to a more serious allergic reaction.

In other news: Mazarron Council resumes the annual fight against the mosquito problem

Image: Pixabay

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