Iestyn Morgan, a 21-year-old conservationist and free diver from Pembrokeshire, captured footage of a lion’s mane jellyfish off the Welsh coast near Trefin Beach. Morgan described the creature as being approximately the length of a bus, with dimensions estimated between 10 to 15 metres. He noted that upon initial observation, he spotted numerous tentacles extending into the water, with the appendages continuing beyond his range of visibility. Morgan initially mistook the specimen for a compass jellyfish before recognizing its exceptional size.
Lion’s mane jellyfish are more commonly encountered in colder Scottish waters and are rarely seen along the Welsh coastline. The creatures derive their name from their elongated tentacles and can reach body lengths of up to 3 metres, though their tentacles may extend significantly beyond that, potentially exceeding 30 to 36.5 metres and making them among the longest animals on Earth. Dr. Cathy Lucas, a marine biologist from the University of Southampton, confirmed that Morgan’s video demonstrated the animal’s remarkable dimensions and explained that the tentacles are so fine and lengthy that they may be virtually invisible to observers.
According to Dr. Lucas, while the lion’s mane jellyfish possesses one of the most potent stings in British waters, the venom is not considered dangerous to humans. She recommended avoiding contact with the creatures and advised that individuals exposed to detached tentacle fragments should remove them with a stick and wash the affected area with warm water. Dr. Lucas noted that lion’s manes reach Welsh waters occasionally during late summer or autumn months, based on public jellyfish sightings, though Scotland remains their primary United Kingdom habitat.
Morgan indicated that he has observed increasing numbers of jellyfish entering Welsh waters during his filming activities. He attributed this pattern to warm water species becoming increasingly abundant in the region and cited recent observations of Mediterranean-native fish species in Welsh waters. Morgan emphasized that he approaches his documentation work with conservation principles in mind, aiming to make aquatic environments more accessible to the public while avoiding harm to the animals he encounters.
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