Thursday, September 26, 2019

I Don't Like Jellyfish...!

Living on the coast, or close to it, for so many years has taught me one thing. I don't care for jellyfish...at all! Not many things in the ocean can entice me to go swimming, certainly not the jellyfish.

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish



The lion’s mane jellyfish, Cyanea capillata, is sometimes stated as the world’s longest animal with the largest specimen recorded at 37m from bell to tentacle tip. The bell, the body of the jellyfish, can be 2m in diameter. Their long tentacles capture small free floating creatures but are also the home to small shrimp who use them as protection. The tentacles cause only mild pain to humans but, being so long, can catch swimmers unawares. The pain can be lessened by treatment of the site with vinegar, but even this is usually unnecessary. The larger the jellyfish grow, the darker they become in color, with the largest specimens being a dark, blood red. Like all jellyfish they move mainly with the ocean currents and are only able to gently pulse to keep them near the surface.

I know they are pretty to look at, but that doesn't mean that I have to like them.

Coffee out on the patio again this morning.

7 comments:

linda m said...

I happened to be swimming off the coast of Okinawa many years ago and was surrounded by a school of Jellyfish. It sure was scary. I rolled up onto my rubber raft and tried swimming back to shore using a couple of fingers. Luckily i didn't get stung. Guess I like looking at them better when they are behind glass in an aquarium. Sunshine today, yippie!

HermitJim said...

Hey Linda...
Glad you didn't get stung. It sure hurts!
Thanks for stopping by today!

JO said...

They are pretty to look at but I can enjoy them in a tank myself. And maybe the one they are showing here doesn't sting to bad but they fail to mention the ones that can give a nasty sting.

Sun shining here today we sure got hit with lots of rain
.

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
Rather see them in a tank thanup close in the water.
Thanks, dear, for dropping by today!

Mamahen said...

I wonder why it is, some of the prettiest creatures, can be the most risky to enjoy or be around? We got a trace of rain this morning, but not nearly as much as we needed, and the sun is out again this afternoon.

HermitJim said...

Hey Mamahen...
Just Mother Nature's way of protecting them, I reckon.
Thanks for the visit this morning!

Dizzy-Dick said...

There seems there is always something out there that would do us harm.