The stranded lion’s mane jellyfish has a volcanic shape, its body is pink and red, drawing the attention of sailors.
The Dickinsons caught a spherical object jutting out like a strange pink volcano on September 17 as they walked along Pakiri Beach in north Auckland, New Zealand, according to Science Alert. Experts have identified this as a jellyfish named lion’s mane jellyfish, with a fragmented white exterior body and a pink-red interior like a jellyfish.
“Jellyfish are everywhere and we’re very excited. We see this huge jellyfish, she looks different from everyone,” said Eve Dickinson. “We spend a lot of time looking because of its beautiful color and shape. My son says the jellyfish reminds him of a volcano.”
The lion’s mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata), also known as the giant jellyfish or furry jellyfish, is most recognizable when it is floating in water. Under its mushroom-shaped head, there are many long, thin filaments that form tentacles. But when he ran aground, his body deflated, giving him the appearance of an alien creature. The Dickinson family also saw the jellyfish twitch. “It looked like a bunch of muscles were contracting together,” said Adam, Eve’s husband.
The lion’s mane jellyfish is the largest known and inhabited jellyfish anywhere in the world, from the Arctic to Australia and New Zealand. They are usually around 50cm wide. The largest specimen ever discovered drifted in Massachusetts Bay in 1870 with a diameter of 2.3 meters.
Marine biologist Diana Macpherson of the New Zealand National Institute for Atmospheric and Aquatic Research says lion’s mane jellyfish are fairly common around islands, but appear less frequently in late winter. “They usually appear in the spring and summer, when the plankton starts to emerge,” says Macpherson.
“They swing all the fish at the same time. Each tentacle rocks them to catch them. They can find a lot of food through multitasking,” said Lisa-Ann Gershwin, marine biologist. CSIRO Australia’s National Scientific Agency.
Lion’s mane jellyfish love to eat plankton and other species of jellyfish. When they float in water, they shoot their food with their tentacles. They also act as oases for small fish and the shrimp are immune to the venom, specializing in consuming what is left of jellyfish. Maned jellyfish feed on large fish and sea turtles such as leatherback turtles. Experts advise people not to touch the washed lion’s mane jellyfish in the beach, because even if the sting does not cause serious damage, it can still cause you pain.
