Mammary-like … One of the jellyfish
that are appearing in swarms around Nelson
JELLYFISH that bear an unusual resemblance to breast
implants have arrived on Nelson shores in New South Wales, Australia.
The black-lined marine animal "the size of a teacup and
maybe the size of a saucer" is apparently harmless, if the behaviour of
one swimmer at Little Kaiteriteri is anything to go by.
Fellow swimmer Sara-Lee
Dabinette was in the area this week and noticed a man weighing up the jellyfish
with one in each hand.
Curious, she went closer and discovered that the jellyfish
did indeed "feel like mammaries", and resembled silicon breast
implants, except for the black lines.
Stephens Bay bach owner John Midgley, who has taken annual
holidays in the area for more than a decade, noticed swarms of what he
described as black-rimmed jellyfish in the Astrolabe Roadstead this week.
He
said it was the first time in all his years in the area he had seen such
jellyfish.
"There were swarms of them. They're almost clear with a
black ring around them."
Mr Midgley said they ranged in size from that of a teacup to
maybe a saucer, and did not appear to have any stingers.
He had noticed them
from the roadstead (near Adele Island) and north to Tonga Island.
"They look like a standard jellyfish but with an odd
colour. They've very definitely got a black rim, and there are hundreds in each
swarm," Midgley said.
The Encyclopedia of New Zealand says the best-known
jellyfish species around New Zealand include the stinging lion's-mane jellyfish
(Cyanea species) and the moon jelly (Aurelia species).
Niwa Nelson regional manager Ken Grange said that without
seeing one it was a bit difficult to say what it might be but swarms are normal
for this time of year.
"In late summer they're going to be everywhere,"
Dr Grange said.
Dennis Gordon, Niwa principal scientist and jellyfish expert
in Wellington, said that without seeing the jellyfish himself it was difficult
to say exactly what the species might be floating on to Nelson shores, but the
description, including that the jellyfish have dark radials extending out from
its centre, sounded like they could be hydroid medusa, formally known as
Aequorea forskalea.
Dr Gordon said they might be described by some as
"breast implants which had been badly handled".
The species is described as being up to 175mm wide,
saucer-shaped, thick in the centre, gradually thinning towards the margin.
Dr Gordon said there is an actual species called "black
jellyfish" (Chrysaora achlyos) which is not found in New Zealand.
He said Aequorea forskalea appear in warm summers, often
associated with La Nina, but New Zealand was currently not in this or an El
Nino phase.
"We had them in March 2010, for example, when the sea
conditions were warm owing to La Nina."
Dr Gordon said jellyfish were useful in determining the
health of the marine environment.
They are sometimes harbingers of pollution that kills other
marine organisms. -- Fairfax NZ News
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