Bathers on Playa de Torrenueva Costa found themselves confronted with an out-of-towner, flopping around in the surf; you expect this in the summer, but not when it's a big, nasty jellyfish.

Yes, there, sulking in the surf, was a rather large jellyfish, which according to specialists from the Aula del Mar, was a Rhizostoma luteum, more commonly known as a ‘tread on me and I’ll light you up like a christmas tree.’

OK, so it’s really more commonly known as a barrel jellyfish, which according to the wildlifetrust.org it goes like this: these large jellyfish swarm in warmer coastal waters in late spring and often wash up on our beaches in May or June, sometimes in their hundreds.

Their favourite meal is plankton, which can be found in shallow waters. This is what often causes them to wash up, as they underestimate their size. They have eight frilly arms, which contain their small stinging tentacles and surround hundreds of little mouths!

The sting of the barrel jellyfish is not normally harmful to humans, though if you find one on the beach it’s best not to handle it as they can still sting when dead.

In short, it is best not to gargle with one, hug it or contemplate becoming romantically intimate.

(News: Torrenueva Costa, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia – Photo: Lola Ruiz)

Keywords: Barrel Jellyfish, Washed Up, Aula del Mar, Sting Not Dangerous

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Reader’s comment: “Contemplate becoming romantically intimate? Ain’t nobody ready for that jelly.” – Darren