The giant jellyfish.

The giant jellyfish. | Bartolo d'en Puig

Humphrey Carter31/05/2024 15:45
TW
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A number of bathers on the beach in Migjorn, in Formentera, got a bit of a shock this week when a giant jellyfish was spotted in shallow waters. According to Ràdio Illa Formentera, “despite its size and imposing appearance”, this type of jellyfish, called Rhizostoma luteum, “is not dangerous to humans”, they added.

This marine animal has a sting that can cause irritation and reddening of the skin “but it rarely causes more serious complications”, the radio station explained. It is also possible that some people may have allergic reactions to the sting. Several specimens of giant jellyfish have been seen off the coast of Mallorca in recent years.

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It is the species ‘Rhizostoma Luteum’, “a very rare and little known jellyfish,” according to marine experts, “it was described in 1837 in the Strait of Gibraltar but then decades passed without anyone seeing one again”.

Last summer a number of swimmer warned of the presence of this giant jellyfish in Mallorca, which can weigh up to 40 kilos. As it resembles the ‘Rhizostoma pulmo’, it was believed that the species did not exist. However, as of 2013 sightings have become more common.

Last month, the beach at Cala Mandia in Manacor was covered with jellyfish known in Mallorca as barquetes de Sant Pere (Saint Peter's small boats). An "invasion" of this kind isn't uncommon, especially in spring. In previous years they have appeared on various beaches - Camp de Mar in 2022, for example; Cala Molins in Cala Sant Vicenç in 2021. They are blown in by the wind. This is a species that bears a similarity to the Portuguese man o' war, but only because of the sail. They are relatively harmless.