They are organisms that must exist in the environment to maintain the balance between species. But obviously JellyfishIt is not welcomed by bathers who want to dive into the beach. They appear on the coast of Spain every summer due to multiple factors. In this list, we explain which ones are from the Ministry of Ecological Transition. The most common species on the coast of Spain and the degree of danger its bite representsoften painful and sometimes even dangerous to humans.
curling (Cotylorhiza tuberculata)
also known as ‘fried egg jellyfish’ precisely because of its characteristic appearance. Shaped and colored like a flattened umbrella, it has tawny, slightly green, and a distinctive orange midrib. It is usually 20 to 35 centimeters in diameter.
It lives both in open waters and on the coast, especially in the latter. It is common in the Mediterranean in summer and autumn. It is very abundant on the Mar Menor.
Her low danger, because of the shortness of its tentacles and the low density of its stinging cells, its capacity to produce hives is limited. It only causes mild skin irritation and itching.
glowing jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca)
dir-dir one of the most frequent. It can measure more than 20 centimeters in diameter. It has 16 tentacles that can be over 20 meters long when opened. The entire surface of its umbrella is covered with warts and has a characteristic reddish-pink color.
It is very common in open waters and approaches the shore, carried by the sea-to-shore winds, especially in summer. It is abundant in both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
high risk. It causes irritation and itching at the skin level and can even leave an open wound that can become infected. Because of its abundance and the length of its tentacles, the affected skin surface can be high, causing respiratory, cardiovascular, and dermatological problems, which can last for weeks or even months.
bad water (Rhyzostoma pulmo)
It is known as aguamala, aguaviva or acalefo azul. a large jellyfish (can reach up to one meter in diameter)or umbrella), bell-shaped shape and beautiful purple decorations. It is a species that lives in the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts and can be seen especially in summer.
contact him stinging, but usually does not cause serious injurybut still and everything should be careful: it is not necessary to come into direct contact with him to take a bite, if he is in closed water with loose tentacle fragments.
aurelia aurita
this jellyfish It is plate-shaped and its arms are scalloped.and by the four purple horseshoe-shaped genitalia in its centre. The color is transparent, with blue-white spots. Annoyed.
It is more abundant in coastal areas and lagoons such as the Mar Menor, as well as fjords and enclosed bays and lagoons with contributions from continental waters, and coastal waters with significant salinity variations. Although it can cause irritation, its sting is not very dangerous.skin.
compass jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella)
This Chrysaora hysoscellaKnown in Spain as the compass jellyfish or radiating akalephos, it is characterized by yellow and orange hues, a tabby pattern, and long tentacles that can reach five meters in length. its color has a yellowish white and radial design characteristic on the umbrella, reminiscent of the drawing of 16 open compass. In some instances this drawing may not be clearly distinguishable.
It is relatively common in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, where it sometimes forms flocks. It is common in open waters, but can come close to the shore, especially in summer, when dragged by currents.
‘high’ danger, According to the Ministry of Ecological Transition, their bites cause itching and burning at first. Immediately afterwards, erythematous lesions and edema appear, creating welts that may take time to disappear.
Portuguese war man (Physalia physalis)
Technically, it is a polyp colony, not a jellyfish, and belongs to the siphonophore order. Therefore, its morphology is slightly different, because its ‘head’ floats unlike what happens in real jellyfish. It offers vibrant intense blue and pink-violet colors, and despite the relatively small size of its floating part (about 30×10 cm in the largest specimens), its slender venomous tentacles, which are hard to see, can exceed 20 meters in length.
It is typical of temperate Atlantic waters, although it can be found occasionally in the Mediterranean. It acts at the mercy of surface currents and winds.
The danger is “very high”, according to the Ministry. Contact with its tentacles can have very serious consequences for humans. The high concentration of nematocysts and their potent venom with neurotoxic, cytotoxic and cardiotoxic properties can in some cases cause a neurogenic shock caused by severe pain and, as a result, a danger of suffocation. In any case, close contact with the tentacles that tangle and stick together to get rid of it can cause burning and sharp pains and skin lacerations.
sailboat (velella velella)
This species is not a true jellyfish, but a floating hydrozoan. Small: the diameter of its disc varies from 1 to 8 centimeters. It forms large flocks in winter and spring. Fortunately, does not pose any danger.
Aequorea Forskalea
Transparent jellyfish in the form of a plate of about 30 centimeters with recognizable black patterns. It is common in the Atlantic, but can occasionally be seen in the Mediterranean and sometimes massively concentrated along coastlines. Their numbers are increasing in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. It does not sting, so it is not dangerous.
box jellyfish (Carybdea marsupialis)
Other than the box jellyfish, it is also known as: sea hornet in the Mediterranean. It has a cubic shape and a strange appearance with long tentacles, highlighted by its bioluminescence with a bluish or whitish color. One of its most striking features is that it has a complex eye that allows it to react to moving objects and changes in light.
Its bite is very serious and can pose a serious health hazard. man, however, usually does not cause incidents as he usually lives in relatively deep waters (below 20 m). They are very difficult to find.
American ctenophore (Mnemiopsis leidyi)
This is a Invasive species native to the Atlantic coast of the Americas. Its introduction took place in the Black Sea, where a large number of fisheries contributed to its collapse. From there it was distributed to other regions, including the Mediterranean. It was first spotted off the coast of Spain in the summer of 2009.
It is a small and strange-looking organism with beautiful iridescence of color. It has no tentacles, but consists of a bulb about 10 centimeters long. It is collected in large concentrations (up to 15,000 individuals per square meter). It does not produce any type of pain and therefore, It’s not dangerous at all.
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