Cynthia McKanzie – MessageToEagle.com – Jellyfish come in various shapes and forms, but some can be quite stunning, like this one discovered on a beach in Auckland, New Zealand.
While walking on Pakiri Beach, north of Warkworth a family suddenly encountered a giant lion’s mane jellyfish.
“Jellyfish were everywhere and we were pretty amazed. Then we saw this massive one that seemed different from all of the others,” Eve Dickinson said.
A lion’s mane jellyfish washed up on Pakiri Beach. Credit: Eve Dickinson
“We spent ages looking at it because of its beautiful colors and shape. My boy said it reminded him of a volcano.”
It’s not the first time a jellyfish of this kind has been discovered, but it’s not often we have the possibility to find these animals on the beach and September was unusually early for one to wash up.
According to NIWA marine biology technician Diana Macpherson , “lion’s mane jellyfish were “pretty common” in New Zealand during the warmer months,” AucklandNow reports.
“They’re usually around during the spring and summer because the plankton starts to bloom, so as a result they come around too,” Macpherson said.
Dickinson said the enormous jellyfish was “amazing” to see. Credit: Eve Dickinson
The lion’s mane, or Cyanea rosea, is the largest jellyfish species found in New Zealand.
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They are usually about 50cm wide, but there have been sightings of specimens more than one metre in diameter.
Macpherson informs that the lion’s mane jellyfish was not poisonous, their stings could cause minor welts.
“They have a toxin in their tentacles which can hurt you if you get too close to them.”
Macpherson said when dealing with the lion’s mane jellyfish, people should “treat them with caution”.
Written by Cynthia McKanzie – MessageToEagle.com Staff Writer