Barrel Jellyfish Size report

Barrel jellyfish, known as Rhizostoma Pulmo, first found in the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean, is one of the most common marine species in UK waters. The tentacles of the barrel jellyfish are poisonous weapons. Still, their stings are not life-threatening to humans, and they only eat plankton. Barrel jellyfish are not too poisonous to cause any serious harm, but try not to touch them.

Barrel jellyfish are amazing and magnificent giant creatures. Barrel jellyfish are the largest in southwest England and are now almost ubiquitous in UK waters. They are commonly found off of the Southern and Western coasts of Britain during the summer when it washes up on the shore.

In 2015, thousands of giant barrel jellyfish swarmed off the coast of Britain's most popular destination. The unprecedented invasion of the giant barrel jellyfish may be due to overfishing, which has reduced their natural enemies. Barrel jellyfish are one of the favorite foods of the world's largest sea turtle, the leatherback. The following post introduces more interesting facts about Barrel jellyfish, including average size and other characteristics.

Barrel Jellyfish Size and Characteristics

Barrel jellyfish come in a variety of colors, with a large clear bell, sometimes translucent pale white or yellow, to green, blue, pink and brown. The most recognizable feature of the barrel jellyfish is the fissure of the umbrella, which is divided into several semicircular lobes. The umbrella of the barrel jellyfish does not have tentacles, but has purple stripes around its bell's edge, containing sensory organs. Under the umbrella are 16 trunks each with three branches; further divided into 8 highly branched long arms and three-winged slender terminal appendages. The gonads of adult male barrel jellyfish are red, while adult females are reddish-brown.

Average Size of Barrel Jellyfish

Generally speaking, the heaviest barrel jellyfish weighs 35 kilograms, and the width of the adult barrel jellyfish is mostly 90 centimeters. Still, it is common for the width of the umbrella-shaped body to reach 100 centimeters. Off the coast of Dorset, a group of 152 cm long and weighing 32 kilograms giant barrel jellyfish have been discovered. Barrel Jellyfish have a bell width between 40-150 cm, a bell height of 30-120 cm, and an overall length of 75-275 cm; their average weight is between 25-35 kg. Barrel jellyfish have a lifespan of 2-6 months.

Conclusion

Barrel jellyfish occur sporadically throughout the year but usually appear in large groups during summer and autumn (May to October), so people often see barrel jellyfish washed ashore in May and June. Biologists think some barrel jellyfish may spend the winter living in deep water off UK waters. Jellyfish are among the oldest and simplest animals on Earth. Despite having no brains, hearts, or blood, these bizarre creatures have drifted into the oceans for over 500 million years. Their supple bodies are more than 90 percent water, and a simple network of nerves controls their spiny tentacles. But what is certain is that the sting of the Barrel jellyfish is not fatal to humans.