Mediterranean jellyfish are marine planktonic animals, belonging to the phylum Cnidaria, which together with the Ctenophores formed once those who were Coelenterates. We publish a collage of several jellyfish encountered during our dives.
Pelagia Noctiluca has a direct development, without any polypoid stage, pink, reddish or purple, has an umbrella of about 10 cm in diameter and tentacles, eight in all, which can touch the meter in length. Its venom is very stinging also to humans, in fact Pelagia is the species that provides more irritation to swimmers. Sometimes in the dark it emits a green light.
Rhizostoma pulmo or Barrel Jellyfish. Certainly for size the largest in the Mediterranean. It can weigh up to 9 kg. The sea lung can reach and exceed 50 cm in diameter. The umbrella has 80 lobes. From whitish color with blue edge lights. Despite the size of the lung is harmless sea and swim next to it is a truly fascinating. Often it hosts among its numerous tentacles fish, as the fish fry such Trachurus, Boops and Seriola.
Medusa – Polmone di mare – Rhizostoma pulmo
We think we have also encountered the jellyfish Aequorea forskalea is a part of the Aequoreidae family. From the typical form, which characterizes every jellyfish, this species has the top aptly named umbrella (for the familiar shape that has) long about 8-25 cm in diameter, from here radiate different brown radial channels or dark blue, the which are directed by the umbrella edges into the stomach. Has many tentacles, long and thin, the texture and coloring are typically transparent and gelatinous, since they formed more water.
Finally Cothyloriza tuberculate or Jellyfish Cassiopeia The shape of cassiopea resembles a flying saucer. The umbrella is depressed and convex at the center. The margin is typically jagged. Eight-branched arms, short tentacles that end with blue-purple disks. The brown color is due to the presence of microscopic algae called zooxanthellae. It probably feeds on small planktonic animals. It almost always accompanied by young fish of the genus Trachurus, which in case of danger, they flee among the tentacles of jellyfish. The cassiopea is harmless. It prefers warmer waters of southern Italy.
Cotylorhiza tuberculata del Mediterraneo – Cassiopea Mediterranea
Slideshow
Ref.: http://www.ilgiornaledeimarinai.it/meduse-mediterraneo/