Lviatour, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
About
Its sting causes intense irritation, pain and a burning sensation - contact should be strictly avoided. It is not lethal, but is clearly more unpleasant than other local jellyfish. If stung: rinse immediately with plenty of seawater (never fresh water, which will burst any remaining stingers), remove any stuck tentacles with a plastic card rather than bare hands, apply ice wrapped in a towel for 10-15 minutes, and use an antihistamine ointment or hydrocortisone cream for the itching. In the rare case of systemic symptoms (difficulty breathing, dizziness, facial swelling), seek medical help immediately.
A common jellyfish species found in coastal waters of temperate regions of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, including the North Sea and the Mediterranean. The compass jellyfish is found in coastal waters of the northeastern Atlantic, including the Celtic, Irish, North and Mediterranean Seas.
As adults, compass jellyfish have a typical jellyfish body and display radial symmetry. The flattened, saucer-shaped bell ranges from 3cm to 43cm, averaging 15.31cm in diameter, and can weigh from 0.2 to 2.4 kg. The outer surface of the bell can be various shades of brown and bears V-shaped markings around a central point.
It has 24 marginal tentacles in 8 groups of 3, and 4 longer oral arms surrounding the mouth.
Distribution
Northeastern Atlantic, Mediterranean, coasts of South Africa. Lives in cold to temperate waters between 4°C and 28°C, relatively close to shore in continental shelf areas.
Danger level
Moderate. Causes a painful sting with burning, redness and hives. Rarely serious, but requires caution. Not fatal, but sensitive individuals need medical evaluation.
Treating a sting
- Get out of the water without rubbing
- Rinse with seawater, remove tentacle fragments with tweezers
- For Chrysaora hysoscella, soaking in 4-6% vinegar for at least 30 seconds is recommended under European guidelines
- Painkillers, antihistamines, a cold compress
- See a doctor if pain persists, there's extensive swelling, or an allergic reaction
Photos
Fried Egg Jellyfish
Cotylorhiza tuberculata
Also known as: Τηγανητό Αυγό, Μεσογειακή Μέδουσα
June - October
Very Common
Mediterranean Mussel
Mytilus galloprovincialis
All year round
Very Common
Flying Gurnard
Dactylopterus volitans
Also known as: Καπόνι, Χελιδόνα, Flying Gurnard
May - October, peak July-August
Common
Long-snouted Seahorse
Hippocampus guttulatus
Spring - Autumn
Rare
Giant Salp
Salpa maxima
Also known as: Πελαγικό Χορδωτό
March - August
Rare
Common Sole
Solea solea
April - November
Occasional
White Seabream
Diplodus sargus
April - October
Common
Mediterranean Horse Mackerel
Trachurus mediterraneus
June - October
Common
Barrel Jellyfish
Rhizostoma pulmo
Also known as: Μέδουσα Βαρέλι
May - October
Common
Black Goby
Gobius niger
April - October
Common
Felimare picta (Regal Sea Goddess)
Felimare picta
Also known as: Regal Sea Goddess
Rare
Common Pandora
Pagellus erythrinus
May - October
Occasional
Noble Pen Shell
Pinna nobilis
Rare
Saddled Seabream
Oblada melanura
April - November
Very Common
Sea Hare
Aplysia fasciata
Also known as: Κρασάς, Γυμνοσάλιαγκας της Θάλασσας
May - October
Occasional
Bogue
Boops boops
May - October
Very Common
European Anchovy
Engraulis encrasicolus
June - September
Common
Mediterranean Green Crab
Carcinus aestuarii
April - October
Very Common
Greater Weever
Trachinus draco
May - September
Common
Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Also known as: Οχταπόδι
All year round, easier during the summer months
Common
Purple Sea Urchin
Paracentrotus lividus
All year round
Very Common
Sea Stars
Echinaster sepositus
All year round
Occasional
European Seabass
Dicentrarchus labrax
May - November
Occasional
Decorator Crab
Maja crispata
May - September
Occasional
Mediterranean Damselfish
Chromis chromis
Also known as: Χρωμίδα, Καλογριά, Καλογρίτσα
May - October
Very Common
Wide-eyed Flounder
Bothus podas
Also known as: Γλώσσα, Πλατύ, Wide-eyed Flounder
All year round
Very Common
Striped Red Mullet
Mullus barbatus / Mullus surmuletus
Also known as: Κουτσομούρα, Μπάρμπουνος, Μπαρμπουνάκι
May - October - that's when they are in shallow waters and you can see the small schools
Very Common
Picarel
Spicara smaris
May - September
Common
Sand Smelt
Atherina hepsetus
April - October
Very Common
Greater Amberjack
Seriola dumerili
Also known as: Τούνα (καταχρηστικά), Ricciola, Lecha
July - September (juveniles in shallow waters)
Common
European Pilchard
Sardina pilchardus
June - September
Common
Pillow Coral
Cladocora caespitosa
Also known as: Pillow coral, Μαξιλαράκι της θάλασσας, Cladocora
All year round, best seen in summer with clear waters
Common
Salema Porgy
Sarpa salpa
May - September
Common
Brown Meagre
Sciaena umbra
June - September
Rare
Sea Cucumber (Holothuria tubulosa)
Holothuria tubulosa
Also known as: Θαλάσσιο Αγγούρι
Occasional
Annular Seabream
Diplodus annularis
April - October
Very Common
Flathead Grey Mullet
Mugil cephalus
All year round
Very Common
Short-Snouted Seahorse
Hippocampus hippocampus
May - September
Rare
Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse
Coris julis
Also known as: Γαϊτανούρι, Λεμοναριά
All year round
Very Common
Mediterranean Hermit Crab
Clibanarius erythropus
Also known as: Κλειτσινάρι, Παγούρι
April - October
Very Common
Mediterranean Parrotfish
Sparisoma cretense
May - October
Occasional
Garfish
Belone belone
May - September
Common
Common Stingray
Dasyatis pastinaca
May - October
Rare
Gilthead Seabream
Sparus aurata
April - October
Very Common
Snakelocks Sea Anemone
Anemonia viridis
All year round
Very Common
Silver-Cheeked Toadfish
Lagocephalus sceleratus
June - October
Rare
Red Scorpionfish
Scorpaena scrofa
All year round
Rare
Black Scorpionfish
Scorpaena porcus
Also known as: Μαύρη Σκορπίνα, Scorpaena, Black Scorpionfish
All year round. In summer they are more in shallow waters.
Very Common
Peacock Wrasse
Symphodus tinca
All year round, more active May - October
Very Common
Mediterranean Moray Eel
Muraena helena
All year round
Occasional
Nomad Jellyfish
Rhopilema nomadica
Also known as: Nomad jellyfish
July - October
Occasional
Two-Banded Seabream
Diplodus vulgaris
April - October
Common
Black Seabream
Spondyliosoma cantharus
April - October
Common
Sand Steenbras
Lithognathus mormyrus
May - October
Very Common
Bucchich's Goby
Gobius bucchichi
Also known as: Γωβιός, Bucchich's Goby, Γκιόζος
All year round, more active in summer
Very Common
Dusky Grouper
Epinephelus marginatus
June - September
Rare
Common Cuttlefish
Sepia officinalis
March - May
Occasional