A giant jellyfish recently washed ashore at a popular tourist beach, prompting warnings from local authorities. Jellyfish stings are notoriously painful, and while I once suffered a sting from a small jellyfish as a child, the lion’s mane jellyfish is a different story altogether. This species can grow tentacles up to 120 feet long—almost as tall as the Statue of Liberty’s main statue.
Though not as heavy as the largest whales, the lion’s mane jellyfish’s long tentacles make it one of the longest creatures in the ocean. Officials in South Portland, Maine, spotted a massive lion’s mane jellyfish nearly five feet wide on Willard Beach and urged visitors not to touch it. Instead, they encouraged people to admire the jellyfish from a safe distance and to alert lifeguards if one is found stranded so it can be carefully returned to the sea.
The Wildlife Trust warns that the sting from this jellyfish can be very painful and advises medical attention if symptoms worsen. There has been a noticeable rise in sightings of lion’s mane jellyfish in recent years. Nicholas Record, a senior scientist tracking these jellyfish, explained that while most sightings are usually small jellyfish, this year has seen several large specimens, some as wide as five feet. These jellyfish are common in colder northern waters, but their size and abundance this year are unusual.
