How dangerous are the jellyfish of the Black Sea?

An integral part of almost any large pond with salt water are jellyfish, which are considered one of the oldest living organisms on the planet. As scientists have been able to establish, they have existed for more than 650 million years, and the evolution process has not affected either their way of life or appearance. The body of jellyfish, consisting 98% of water, is similar in shape to an umbrella (or bell). Due to this structure, the jellyfish is able to move easily in the water column due to the contraction of the muscles, which are the watered connective tissue.

A jellyfish (medusoidal generation) is the phase of the life cycle of multicellular animals that have stinging cells called the cnidarians, which are divided into three classes according to their structure: hydromedusus, sciophedus and cubomedus. In total, there are several thousand species and subspecies of these marine organisms in nature, but the jellyfish of the Black Sea are represented by only three kinds of creatures.

Are Black Sea jellyfish dangerous?

So, what can jellyfish meet in the Black Sea, photos of which are so loved by holidaymakers against the background of the surf to remember the wonderful days spent under the tender southern sun?

• Cornerot (Latin Rhizostoma pulmo). This predator feeds on worms, small fish and crustaceans, which paralyzes with its poison, and then successfully eats. Cornerot has a rather large cap, which can reach half a meter in diameter, and large fleshy outgrowths, which are lobes of the oral cavity. As a rule, the greatest number of these jellyfish appears along the coast in the second half of summer. Very sensitive to weather changes, the cornerots before the storm leave the shore and lie down on the bottom. Of all the representatives of the creeping, it is the most poisonous jellyfish of the Black Sea, which can sting - not deadly, but very palpable. Meeting with this marine life can result in the appearance on the skin of blisters, as in a thermal burn.
• Aurelia (Latin Aurelia aurita), also called eared aurelia. It has a translucent pinkish-violet body. The dome of the aurelia can reach 40 cm in diameter, in the center of it there are organs producing sex cells (gonads), in the form of four purple rings. The basis of their diet is small zooplankton. For humans, these jellyfish of the Black Sea are absolutely safe, since their stinging cells are not capable of penetrating the skin. The maximum that they can cause is a reddening of the mucous membrane of the eyes or mouth.
• Mnemiopsis (Latin Mnemiopsis leidyi). Representatives of this species have neither tentacles nor stings. Although they feed on the caviar of small fish, for humans these jellyfish of the Black Sea are absolutely harmless.

As a conclusion

Unlike some types of spitting, such as the hairy cyanide that shoots its victim with a powerful poison that can kill small animals and cause significant damage to a larger one (including humans), the Black Sea jellyfish are absolutely peaceful, harmless creatures. Nevertheless, during the rest you should be careful not to spoil your mood. This is especially true for holidaymakers with children, who are so attracted by these unusual representatives of the water world.