Duncan Wither

Jellyfish Notes

My personal notes on jellyfish that are sometime seen in Scottish waters (and whether to worry or not). Please do not take this as gospel and do your own research. If you are allergic to stings the results could be much worse. This list is non exhaustive.

• Barrel Jellyfish
  • Sting but not that badly (relatively)
  • Pretty Big - 40cm to 1m
• Sea Goosberries / Comb Jellies
  • No stingers, very cute.
  • Looks like little gooseberries with two tendrils.
  • Bioluminescent ✨
• Lions Mane
  • Nasty sting but not lethal (in small doses)
  • big red and stringy
• Portuguese MOW
  • Avoid at all costs ☠️
  • Purple and with a sail protruding from the sea
• Moon Jellyfish
  • Mild Sting / not stingy
  • Clear with four purple bits in the bell
• Blue Jellyfish
  • Meant to be a mild sting
• Cross Jellyfish
  • Needs proper identification¹
  • Not really stingy from touching it

For pictures, and more info (and more jellies) see here.

For stings, applying heat is good because it can de-nature the venom and stop it stinging.