Rare purple jellyfish have been spotted washed up on a British beach, creating a “cool but sad” sight. These ‘Mauve Stingers’ may be small but are capable of a powerful sting and glow brightly at night if disturbed. The jellyfish were found at Porth Hellick on St Mary’s on the Isles Of Scilly, which is unusual as they are mainly seen offshore or in warmer European waters like the Mediterranean. These sightings are more common from July to October and are influenced by weather and ocean currents, according to the Wildlife Trust.
Photographs of the jellyfish were shared by Nikki Banfield, also known as The BareFoot Photographer, who highlighted that while Mauve Stingers are a regular sight in Scilly, seeing hundreds of thousands of them washed up in bulk is not typical. The jellyfish, around six to seven centimetres in diameter on average, were found intertwined with seaweed and sand, with thousands of smaller ones among them.
Speaking about the unusual phenomenon, Nikki mentioned how the “jellyfish soup” scene beneath the ocean’s surface has intrigued many sea swimmers, as the smaller jellyfish may deliver a more substantial sting. These jellyfish possess stinging cells on both their cells and tentacles, distinguishing them from others that sting solely with their tentacles. Variations in individuals’ reactions to the stings have also been observed.
The convergence of such a large number of these jellyfish species onshore indicates multiple factors at play in the ocean ecosystem, as described by Nikki. She elaborated on the potential relationship between jellyfish populations and ocean conditions such as food abundance, growth, and reproduction. Concerns about global heating, overfishing, and climate change leading to imbalances in the marine environment were also raised.
The sightings of these rare purple jellyfish can be reported to Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Strandings Network, which monitors and documents deceased marine wildlife washing up. Nikki underscored the significance of raising awareness about wildlife conservation efforts, emphasising the importance of safeguarding marine ecosystems.