'Box jellyfish' seen in yacht marinas

The Spot the Jellyfish campaign said today that it had received numerous reports over the past few days of sightings of the box jellyfish species – Carybdea marsupialis – in the yacht marinas at Ta' Xbiex/Msida and Vittoriosa. In all cases, the box jellyfish were reported as occurring in groups of less than five. Marine biologist Dr. Alan Deidun, coordinator of the campaign, said the jellyfish might have a preference for concrete walls or for nutrient-rich (polluted waters), or it might be that its larval stages are being transported by recreational vessels. The species has a roughly conical umbrella shape, with four long tentacles emerging from each corner of the umbrella and having roughly 4-5 times the length of the umbrella which is normally only 3cm long. The species is highly transparent and quite difficult to spot in water, normally occurring at great depths (500-1000 meters) but which can be occasionally nudged to the surface by currents. Although not lethal as its Pacific Ocean counterpart – the sea wasp (Chironex fleckeri) – which is listed as one of the most venomous animal species on earth, the Mediterranean box jellyfish species can still inflict painful...