Giant jellyfish wash up on Aldinga Beach
Huge jellyfish – the size of dinner plates – have been spotted on a beach in Adelaide’s south.
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Giant jellyfish – the size of dinner plates – have washed up at Aldinga Beach.
The jellyfish – commonly known as Haeckel’s jellyfish – can span 40cm and are found in shallow waters near the coast.
Andrew Bedford from the Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club said it was “pretty unusual” to see them at Aldinga but they had washed up as a result of the warmer weather.
“They generally drift and wash up according to the weather pattern,” Mr Bedford said.
He first saw the jellyfish while out with the club’s nippers last week.
“One washed up during junior training last week and they are huge,” he said.
“We see them occasionally but it’s pretty unusual – it’s the first time I’ve seen them in four years at the club.
“All the nippers were fascinated, they all wanted to poke it, it’s pretty hard when you’re eight to stay focused (on surf life saving) when there’s a huge jellyfish.”
Marine biologist Dr Mike Bossley said the Haeckel’s jellyfish had a mild sting but that some people may be more sensitive to them.
“They are very pretty and quite common,” he said.
According to the weather bureau, SA is headed for more heatwaves this summer.
“South Australia was very warm and dry particularly during the daytime periods,” Dr Andrew Watkins said.
“It’s looking at coming in as one of the top five driest springs on record.”
