A very special jellyfish has appeared this week on the Murcian coast. It is a specimen of Rhizostoma luteum, a type of jellyfish that can weigh no less than 40 kilos. This species native to the Atlantic caught the attention of bathers in Mazarrón (Murcia) this Wednesday, after 1:00 p.m.
The sighting took place on Bahía beach, one of the most popular in the town. As can be seen in the videos posted on social networks, the jellyfish was about 60 centimeters in diameter. His weight ranged between 10 and 15 kilos.
In the presence of this specimen, two bathers decided to remove the jellyfish with the help of a large plastic bag, thus drawing the attention of dozens of tourists and lifeguards who came to the area to observe the scene.
The images taken by those present show a specimen of Rhizostoma luteum, a jellyfish from Atlantic waters. It is rare to see this kind of jellyfish in the Mediterranean, coming to be considered missing seventy years ago due to the lack of specimens. Since 1827, this jellyfish has only been mentioned in the scientific literature six times, since it is quite difficult to find its populations.
Two summers ago, this jellyfish resurfaced in Cadiz waters, alarming tourists on the beaches of Chipiona, Rota or El Palmar. These popular beaches in Cádiz had to change the color of the flags to alert bathers, since it is a stinging jellyfish that can cause irritation.
Despite having dark tentacles similar to those of the Portuguese man-of-war, Rhizostoma luteum is not poisonous. Likewise, it is convenient to know several details to differentiate it: the Rhizostoma luteum is larger (up to one meter) and its shape is shell-like, while the Portuguese jellyfish is smaller (40 cm) and has the shape of a sail.
