A number of jellyfish have been washing up in the reserve recently including the beautiful mauve stinger Pelagia noctiluca, a first for Dorset. These are relatively small jellyfish, which can grow up to 10cm in size, but can give a painful sting from both their tentacles and unusually, the bumps on top of the bell. These jellyfish can glow in the dark when stimulated by wave action and are rarely sighted around the British Isles, being more usually found out in the open waters of the Atlantic. We currently believe that this sighting is a first for Dorset.
A compass jellyfish, with its distinctive brown V-shaped markings and pale coloured bell, has also been sighted in the bay.
Mauve Stinger, Pelagia noctiluca - Photo by Steve Trewhella |
