by Hornby’s jellyfish
On our recent visit to Hornby Island, we were amazed by how many jellyfish were on the beaches and rocks. They had beautiful and rich coloured patterns, were mostly around 15″ across, though one was about 20″. We think they are the Lion’s Mane jellyfish. Note the crab inside the third one. The last photo shows a small one in a tidal pool, I don’t know if it’s the same species.
September 24, 2009 in Canada and BC, Nature, Photoworks by Marja-Leena
Scary looking! But yes, beautiful colors. I guess nobody walks around barefoot. 🙂
The aquarium in Boston had a great display of jellyfish when I was last there – glow in the dark kinds. Amazing beasties.
It’s looking at you vindictively. I wouldn’t go back if I were you.
Leslee, they are more scary in the water where their sting is painful. I think the ones on the beaches and rocks are dying, though I still wouldn’t want to step on them in bare feet.
BB, heh, the poor things were probably more scared of me, than I of them! I didn’t go swimming (’twas too cold for me) but I’d be very afraid of them in the water. Hornby Island firmly remains as one of my very favourite places.
Interesting symetry.A lion’s mane in the sea is an curious thought. They are impressive creatures. I imagine they are more beautiful in the water.
A crab inside a jellyfish?
Inside?
How did that happen?
I am intrigued
and rather alarmed
Could such a fate befall a dog, a cat, a small woman?
I wonder how it feels to be inside a jellyfish
There are some days when I think I understand how that must be!
Joe, the naming is indeed curious and almost mythical, isn’t it? I wonder if these look more transparent and whitish is the water, so easy to miss, the kind I’ve sometimes seen.
Hi Mouse, great to have you here! Heh, imagine absorbing something as large as you mention! That smothered feeling would be hard to handle. I wondered if the jellyfish is eating the crab, or is it the other way around?
all that glistening wobbly stuff…amazing. I feel a bit like that myself at the moment
Rosie, you feeling glistening and wobbly? Noooo….
I especially like the photo of the jelly in the tidal pool. Looks like the sea is looking back at you…so wonderful and spooky at the same time.
Would make a good opening photo for a science-fiction movie.
🙂
oh of course
the crab could be eating the jellyfish!
that makes me feel happier, I’d rather be crunched by a crab than juicified by a jellyfsh
although the latter would be more spectacular
The picture were interesting enough that I had to investigate the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish. Were you aware it’s the largest jellyfish known? They inhabit the cold northern oceans and in 1870, one that washed ashore on Massachusetts Bay had a bell diameter of 7 feet and 6 inches with tentacles measuring 120 feet. Yow. They are pretty though.
The worrisome thing about jellyfish is that huge swarms of them have been coming ashore in places where they’re not generally seen – the coast of Spain, for instance most recently. Scientists seem to think that a combination of warmer ocean water and pollutants are attracting them.
Martha, I just like that photo artistically speaking 🙂
Mouse, a case of the mouse eating the giant?
Susan, yes, I read all that in the link I provided. Glad you did, these jellyfish are quite amazing. Changes in normal patterns on the coasts everywhere certainly are alarming. I’m not sure if we’re getting an abnormal number of jellyfish but we are seeing a drastic drop in our salmon runs, for many reasons including climate change, overfishing and fish farms.
So many adjectives are dancing around in my head. Interesting creatures. I am more of a mountain person than a beach person, so this is the first time I ever seen stationery jellyfish.
R, I’m not a beach person in the sense of laying about and roasting myself on them, in fact I detest doing that, but I do love walking and exploring beaches like these with all manner of rocks and creatures! Or the crashing waves and patterns on sand in the Tofino area!
interesting! i had no idea jellyfish were so colorful….and dangerous to crabs. scary!
Taina, it was all a learning experience for me too!
Eating or being eaten, neither is a comfortable thought. I think perhaps the crab was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
They are remarkably beautiful on land, one normally sees them all illuminated in aquaria.
Lucy, it’s all part of the food chain, isn’t it, uncomfortable though it is sometimes. Yes, stunning beauties…