Latest news with #MauveStinger
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Why UK beaches have more jellyfish than ever – and how to spot the most dangerous ones
And how another more deadly creature could also wash up FISH IT OUT Why UK beaches have more jellyfish than ever – and how to spot the most dangerous ones MORE jellyfish than ever are being spotted in waters around the UK, according to experts. In recent months, 1,000s of jellyfish have been spotted on beaches across the country. Advertisement 2 More jellyfish could hit UK shores Credit: Alamy Genevieve Watson, Biologist at KISTERS explained: "Rising sea temperatures are having a direct impact on marine life in all kinds of ways. "Warmer waters can expand the habitat of marine species such as stingrays and jellyfish, allowing them to thrive in our coastal regions - areas that would have previously been too cold for them. "Few of us will look back to our childhood and remember ever seeing a stingray or jellyfish in the water at the seaside, but actually, for our children and grandchildren, this could be an increasingly common sight." Some of the most dangerous ones are the Portuguese Man o' War, which are spotted by their blue, balloon-like floating tentacles which deliver a painful sting. Advertisement Read more on beaches WAVE GOODBYE UK beach 'falling into the sea' reveals drastic new plans to stop erosion Another jellyfish with a strong sting is the Mauve Stinger which has four frilled arms and eight tentacles, often purple in colour. Otherwise there is also the yellow Compass Jellyfish with brown markings that look like a compass. Lions Mane Jellyfish, with long tentacles in yellow, orange or brown, are also painful if stung. While less painful, the translucent Moon Jellyfish (with purple rings) and Barrel Jellyfish in pale pink, blue or white even have mild stings. Advertisement Thankfully, none of the jellyfish are deadly that are at risk of being spotted in the UK. Only those with allergies or anyone who doesn't get the wound treated are likely to suffer more serious effects. Bizarre moment Brit hols hotspot beach turns BLUE as it's left totally covered by swarm of stinging jellyfish What to do if stung by a jellyfish Cornish Watersports issued the following advice on Facebook after thousands of the stinger jellyfish washed up: 1. Rinse the affected area with seawater (not freshwater) 2. Remove any spines from the skin using tweezers or the edge of a bank card. 3. Soak the area in very warm water (as hot as can be tolerated) for at least 30 minutes – use hot flannels or towels if you cannot soak it. 4. Take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen. 5. Obviously, if you are prone to have an allergic reaction to any stingers go straight to A&E. Cornwall Watersports also advice that those who get stung call NHS 111 for further advice. Genevieve said it was even possible that stingrays could be next in the UK waters. She added: "We've seen increased reports over recent years of jellyfish blooms on the British and Irish coast as their population has exploded due to increasingly warm waters, it's highly possible that stingrays could be next.' Advertisement Some have already been spotted in UK waters, such as the Common Stingray. While they currently don't come close to the shoreline, they still have a very painful sting from their tail. Last year, thousands of purple jellyfish washed up on the Isles of Scilly. Here's what you should do if you are ever stung by a jellyfish. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Why UK beaches have more jellyfish than ever – and how to spot the most dangerous ones
MORE jellyfish than ever are being spotted in waters around the UK, according to experts. In recent months, 2 More jellyfish could hit UK shores Credit: Alamy Genevieve Watson, Biologist at "Warmer waters can expand the habitat of marine species such as stingrays and jellyfish, allowing them to thrive in our coastal regions - areas that would have previously been too cold for them. "Few of us will look back to our childhood and remember ever seeing a stingray or jellyfish in the water at the seaside, but actually, for our children and grandchildren, this could be an increasingly common sight." Some of the most dangerous ones are the sting . Read more on beaches Another jellyfish with a strong sting is the Mauve Stinger which has four frilled arms and eight tentacles, often purple in colour. Otherwise there is also the yellow Compass Jellyfish with brown markings that look like a compass. Lions Mane Jellyfish, with long tentacles in yellow, orange or brown, are also painful if stung. While less painful, the translucent Moon Jellyfish (with purple rings) and Barrel Jellyfish in pale pink , blue or white even have mild stings. Most read in Beach holidays Thankfully, none of the jellyfish are deadly that are at risk of being spotted in the UK. Only those with allergies or anyone who doesn't get the wound treated are likely to suffer more serious effects. Bizarre moment Brit hols hotspot beach turns BLUE as it's left totally covered by swarm of stinging jellyfish What to do if stung by a jellyfish Cornish Watersports issued the following advice on Facebook after thousands of the stinger jellyfish washed up: 1. Rinse the affected area with seawater (not freshwater) 2. Remove any spines from the skin using tweezers or the edge of a bank card. 3. Soak the area in very warm water (as hot as can be tolerated) for at least 30 minutes – use hot flannels or towels if you cannot soak it. 4. Take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen. 5. Obviously, if you are prone to have an allergic reaction to any stingers go straight to A&E. Cornwall Watersports also advice that those who get stung call NHS 111 for further advice. Genevieve said it was even possible that stingrays could be next in the UK waters. She added: "We've seen increased reports over recent years of jellyfish blooms on the British and Irish coast as their population has exploded due to increasingly warm waters, it's highly possible that next .' Some have already been spotted in UK waters, such as the Common Stingray. While they currently don't come close to the shoreline, they still have a very painful sting from their tail. Last year, Here's what you should do if you are ever stung by a jellyfish. 2 You should always disinfect the wound straight afterwards Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
World's most dangerous jellyfish with killer sting washes up in Brit hols hotspot as cops cordon off beach
A BEACH on one of Britain's favourite sunshine getaways was turned into a danger zone after the world's most dangerous jellyfish washed ashore. The Portuguese Man O'War was discovered in Cala en Porter, a popular beach in 4 A Portuguese Man O'War jellyfish washed ashore on one of Britain's favourite holiday hotspots Credit: Alamy 4 The dangerous creature was found by a beachgoer in Cala en Porter, Menorca Credit: Getty Lifeguards then quickly retried the deadly drifter, cordoning off a wide section of the beach before local cops swooped in to take over. The creature - which isn't technically a jellyfish but a colonial organism - is rarely seen outside the open Atlantic. It can cause permanent scars or even kill people with allergies. Even if you are not near its head, the trailing tentacles can give you a painful sting when you least expect it. Read more Menorca stories Highlighting its deceptive beauty, authorities warned: 'It has an intense poisonous colour in purple, blue and pink.' The appearance follows a jaw-dropping jellyfish invasion in the The In an incredible video, the popular beach looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie, blanketed in vivid blue jellyfish that left stunned tourists steering clear. Most read in The Sun Experts say the jellyfish surge is linked to warming seas and rising pollution, as jellyfish thrive in low-oxygen zones where other marine life can't survive. Spanish Beaches Close Due to Dangerous Sea Creature Back in Menorca, the man-of-war is a stark reminder that beachgoers must stay alert. 'Touching the mollusc can cause permanent scars and, in extreme cases, even lead to death in people with allergies,' beach officials reiterated. Local authorities are monitoring the waters and warn tourists not to approach any strange blobs they spot on the sand – no matter how pretty they look. Last year, thousands of venomous jellyfish were Mauve Stingers, also known as Pelagia noctiluca, were found both in the water and dead in the sand. While their stings are not lethal, they are known to be quite painful. The Mauve Stinger can grow up to 10cm across while its tentacles can be up to 10 feet long. 4 The creature has dangerous tentacles that can stretch up to 30 feet Credit: Alamy 4 In rare cases, the Man O'War's sting can even cause death, especially in people with allergies Credit: Getty The jellyfish are purple or blue in colour, hence the name Mauve, and were spotted on a 30-mile stretch of coastline between Falmouth and St Austell. Rachael Edmans, the beachgoer in Falmouth who spotted the apocalyptic scene, was shocked to see just how many had been washed up as she went for a paddle in the sea. "I was very surprised to see so many mauve stingers," she said. "Usually we see lots of compass jellyfish. But never that many." Alison Wilcock spotted thousands of the sea creatures on the beaches of St Austell. "We usually get a few every year but nothing like this," she said of the thousands of dangerous blobs scattering the beach. "The whole of St Austell is teeming with them." What is the Portuguese man o' war? THE Portuguese Man O'War, often mistaken for a jellyfish, is actually a siphonophore – a colony of specialised organisms working together. Known for its deadly sting, this marine menace has tentacles that can stretch up to 30 feet and deliver excruciating pain and permanent scarring. In rare cases it can even cause death, particularly in individuals with allergies. Its vivid blue, purple, and pink hues serve as a natural warning to keep away. Although typically found drifting through the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, sightings in the Mediterranean – especially around Mallorca and Menorca – have led to temporary beach closures in recent years. The Man O'War is a carnivorous predator, using its venom to paralyse small fish, shrimp, and plankton before dragging them into its digestive polyps. Despite its fearsome defences, it does have a few natural predators, including loggerhead turtles, blue sea slugs, and the remarkable man-of-war fish, which has evolved to live among its toxic tentacles.
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
World's most dangerous jellyfish with killer sting washes up in Brit hols hotspot as cops cordon off beach
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BEACH on one of Britain's favourite sunshine getaways was turned into a danger zone after the world's most dangerous jellyfish washed ashore. The Portuguese Man O'War was discovered in Cala en Porter, a popular beach in Menorca after a beachgoer spotted the bizarre-looking blob on the sand. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A Portuguese Man O'War jellyfish washed ashore on one of Britain's favourite holiday hotspots Credit: Alamy 4 The dangerous creature was found by a beachgoer in Cala en Porter, Menorca Credit: Getty Lifeguards then quickly retried the deadly drifter, cordoning off a wide section of the beach before local cops swooped in to take over. The creature - which isn't technically a jellyfish but a colonial organism - is rarely seen outside the open Atlantic. It can cause permanent scars or even kill people with allergies. Even if you are not near its head, the trailing tentacles can give you a painful sting when you least expect it. Highlighting its deceptive beauty, authorities warned: 'It has an intense poisonous colour in purple, blue and pink.' The appearance follows a jaw-dropping jellyfish invasion in the Canary Islands. The popular Playa del Cura in Gran Canaria turned blue after a storm dumped tens of thousands of stinging jellyfish onto the sand. In an incredible video, the popular beach looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie, blanketed in vivid blue jellyfish that left stunned tourists steering clear. Experts say the jellyfish surge is linked to warming seas and rising pollution, as jellyfish thrive in low-oxygen zones where other marine life can't survive. Spanish Beaches Close Due to Dangerous Sea Creature Back in Menorca, the man-of-war is a stark reminder that beachgoers must stay alert. 'Touching the mollusc can cause permanent scars and, in extreme cases, even lead to death in people with allergies,' beach officials reiterated. Local authorities are monitoring the waters and warn tourists not to approach any strange blobs they spot on the sand – no matter how pretty they look. Last year, thousands of venomous jellyfish were found on the beaches of Cornwall. Mauve Stingers, also known as Pelagia noctiluca, were found both in the water and dead in the sand. While their stings are not lethal, they are known to be quite painful. The Mauve Stinger can grow up to 10cm across while its tentacles can be up to 10 feet long. 4 The creature has dangerous tentacles that can stretch up to 30 feet Credit: Alamy 4 In rare cases, the Man O'War's sting can even cause death, especially in people with allergies Credit: Getty The jellyfish are purple or blue in colour, hence the name Mauve, and were spotted on a 30-mile stretch of coastline between Falmouth and St Austell. Rachael Edmans, the beachgoer in Falmouth who spotted the apocalyptic scene, was shocked to see just how many had been washed up as she went for a paddle in the sea. "I was very surprised to see so many mauve stingers," she said. "Usually we see lots of compass jellyfish. But never that many." Alison Wilcock spotted thousands of the sea creatures on the beaches of St Austell. "We usually get a few every year but nothing like this," she said of the thousands of dangerous blobs scattering the beach. "The whole of St Austell is teeming with them."
