A PRESTATYN resident was shocked to find what is believed to be a rare species of jellyfish washed up on a beach in the town today (July 27).
Julia Allen was enjoying her daily morning walk when, at about 8.10am, she noticed a unusually large jellyfish on Prestatyn Central beach.
After some research, Julia believes the creature, which was alone, to be a lion’s mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata), which is common across Europe and can grow from about 30 to 50cm.
It can also sting if its tentacles are touched, and preys on fish and other, smaller jellyfish.
She admitted she had “never ever” seen anything like it, adding: “it really freaked me out”.
Julia said: “I see jellyfish a lot on my walks, but they’re only small ones. I think it’s quite unusual to have one here. It was a lonely jellyfish!
“I looked it up, did some research, and it (lion’s mane) is the only one which seemed to match.
“It was huge. I wasn’t scared, because it wasn’t moving or anything; I was just shocked.”
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Anglesey Sea Zoo and Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences were contacted to see if either organisation could confirm the species based on Julia’s photos.
Frankie Hobro, director and owner of Anglesey Sea Zoo, said: "It is definitely a lion's mane jellyfish.
"These are starting to wash up in quite large numbers now with the rising sea temperatures - we are going into ‘jellyfish season’!
"This one is a small one: the species can grow up to over a metre in diameter, and they must be avoided as they give a very nasty sting, even when washed up on the beach like this."
A university spokesperson said that, although “it is difficult to provide an accurate identification when the jellyfish is upside down”, it is “probably a small lion’s mane jellyfish”.
One of the world’s largest species of jellyfish, another lion’s mane was also spotted on Seacombe beach in Wallasey, Wirral, last month.
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