The purple-striped jellyfish, found off California’s coast, has a bell that grows up to 2.3 feet wide and sports vibrant purple stripes. While beautiful, its sting can be painful, so admire from a distance!
{Prelims – Envi – Species}
Context:
- Venomous jellyfish blooms have been sighted along the coast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
- These jellyfish are called Pelagia noctiluca or purple-striped jellyfish.
Jellyfish bloom:
- It is when the population of the species increases dramatically within a short period of time, usually due to a higher reproduction rate.
- Reasons: Jellyfish blooms happen because of warm ocean temperatures.
- Effects: These blooms will hurt the fishing and tourism industries.
- Blooms can also occur naturally, often when ocean and wind currents push jellyfish into one area.
Pelagia noctiluca jellyfish:
- It is found worldwide in tropical and warm-temperature seas.
- They are rare on the East coast of India.
- Unlike other jellyfish, these jellyfish have stingers not only on their tentacles but also on their bell.
- They are known for their painful sting, which can be life-threatening. If they sting someone, the jellyfish can cause severe pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
- These are bioluminescent, having an ability to produce light in the dark.
Jellyfish:
- Despite their name, jellyfish are not fish. Instead, they are invertebrates.
- Jellyfish do not have a head, a brain, a heart, a circulatory system, or organs for respiration and excretion.
- A key characteristic of jellyfish is the presence of venomous stinging structures called nematocysts.
- Jellyfish are found in all oceans. They are most abundant in tropical waters.
- Show great diversity in colour. Species may be white, orange, yellow, pink, red, purple, blue or translucent.
| Conservation status | |
| IUCN Red List Status | Not Evaluated |
| CITES status | |
| Convention on Migratory Species |
Source: (TH )
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are there any jellyfish with purple and stripes?
Several jellyfish species with coloration might be described as purple and striped. Some possibilities include:
- Porpita porpita (Portuguese Man o’ War): This isn’t a true jellyfish, but a colony. It has a violet or purple gas bladder with trailing tentacles that can deliver a painful sting.
- Violet Sea Gooseberry (Pleurobrachia rhodopis): This small, bioluminescent jellyfish has a bell-shaped body that can range from pinkish-purple to violet and sometimes has faint stripes.
2. Do purple-striped jellyfish sting?
As mentioned above, the sting potential depends on the specific jellyfish.
- Portuguese Man o’ War: Delivers a painful sting that can cause welts, respiratory issues, and muscle cramps.
- Violet Sea Gooseberry: Sting is mild and unlikely to be noticeable for humans.
3. Where do purple-striped jellyfish live?
The habitat depends on the species:
- Portuguese Man o’ War: Found in warmer waters around the world, often drifting on the surface with the current.
- Violet Sea Gooseberry: Found in temperate and subpolar waters around the world, often at deeper depths.
4. Are purple-striped jellyfish dangerous?
Again, it depends on the species:
- Portuguese Man o’ War: This can cause painful stings and should be avoided.
- Violet Sea Gooseberry: Sting is mild and not dangerous to humans.
5. Can I keep a purple-striped jellyfish as a pet?
Most jellyfish species are not well-suited for aquariums. They have specific needs regarding water quality, current, and food that are difficult to replicate in captivity.
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