Recently, a beachgoer in Texas stumbled upon a rare jellyfish species with tentacles that can reach lengths of up to 70 feet. This discovery came as at least ten of these gelatinous creatures, commonly referred to as “pink meanies,” washed ashore along a 10-mile stretch of beach.
The jellyfish, known scientifically as Drymonema larsoni, can have tentacles that stretch nearly the length of two school buses and can weigh around 50 pounds. Interestingly, this species was only identified as new in 2011, nearly 90 years after the last new jellyfish species was documented.
“This is typically when they start showing up,” a researcher noted, adding that they are usually seen at the end of summer and into early autumn. During this time, the pink meanies travel from the Gulf Coast of Texas in search of common jellyfish, such as the moon jellyfish.
As the smaller moon jellyfish flow with the currents, the much larger pink jellyfish use their numerous “oral arms” to capture and incapacitate their prey. This hunting process is pretty fascinating, though their survival can be quite precarious since pink meanies struggle without a steady food supply and are sensitive to environmental changes.
“Without the moon jellyfish, their lifespan is drastically shortened,” the researcher explained. They also tend to perish quickly when water temperatures drop. So, spotting these creatures is certainly a rare event.
Despite their intimidating size, the stings of pink meanies are relatively mild for humans, rated around a two out of ten in pain severity. “We can use vinegar to help remove some of their tentacles and treat any stings,” the researcher added.
Interestingly, while these jellyfish may look formidable, they’re not considered edible and often either wash away or are quickly scavenged by seabirds after they wash up on the beach.
It turns out, the pink meanies were initially misidentified by scientists, being thought to belong to another species known from the Mediterranean. Further studies, however, confirmed that they are a distinct jellyfish type observed not only in the Mediterranean but also in South Africa.
