Mauve Stinger
This most common species of jellyfish that you will see in Ibiza is known by several names, the most common being the Mauve Stinger. Often referred to as stinging jellyfish, contact is very painful and burns like fire. Lat: Pelagia noctiluca
Mauve Stinger
Size and appearance:
A small mushroom-shaped body from 8-12cm in diameter. Unlike most jellyfish, the bell is covered with numerous warty lumps containing nematocysts (stinging capsules). The bell is usually pink or mauve with 8 pale brown tentacles 10-40cm in length.
First Aid – Mauve Stinger:
1. Remove attached tentacles – do not rub the affected area.
2. Flush the area well with sea water (not fresh water). Seawater with a dash of vinegar is also good
3. Use a plastic credit card to remove any remaining tentacles
4. If possible, soak the injured area in hot water (no hotter than the rescuer can comfortably tolerate) for 20 minutes.
5. If heat does not relieve pain or hot water is not available, apply a cold pack or ice in a dry plastic bag. 10 to 15 minutes
6. Get medical help if symptoms persist
7. In a few people and depending on the size of the contact area, hives and chills may appear after days and after a week. Do not hesitate and consult a doctor.
!! DO NOT wrap in bandages nor use pure vinegar, fresh water, alcohol and ammonia, all of which can aggravate the situation further !!
Portuguese man-o-war
Very rare jellyfish that can find in Ibiza. Contact is very painful and burns like fire.
Portugese mon-o-war are not actually jellyfish, but a colony of fourkinds of highly modified individuals (polyps). The polyps are dependent on one another for surivial and each performs a different function. Lat: Physalia utriculus
Portuguese man-o-war at the beach
Size and appearance:
Air-filled sac up to 20 cm in length, usually with a single, long, blue main fishing tentacle hanging underneath. This may contract to a few centimeters or extend to cover over 2.5 to 10 meters in length.
Some may have numerous main fishing tentacles and can cause painful stinging. This air-filled sack serves as the sail for the Portuguese galley and is quite visible above the water. Nevertheless, caution is advised, do not approach as the tentacles can be very long.
First aid – Portuguese man-o-war:
1. Don’t rub!! Stay calm.
2. Attached tentacles are a visible sting and are characteristic of Pelagia Noctiluca. Remove any attached tentacles
3. Flush the area well with seawater (not fresh water).
4. If possible, soak the injured area in hot water (no hotter than the rescuer can comfortably tolerate) for 20 minutes.
5. If heat does not relieve pain or hot water is not available, apply a cold pack or ice in a dry plastic bag. 10 to 15 minutes
6. Get medical help if symptoms persist
7. In some people and depending on the size of the contact area, hives and chills could occur after days or a week. Do not hesitate and consult a doctor.
!! DO NOT wrap in bandages nor use pure vinegar, fresh water, alcohol and ammonia, all of which can aggravate the situation further !!
Fried egg jellyfish
Fried jellyfish are also rarely seen in Ibiza. Usually just below the water surface. It can move actively and is thus relatively independent of ocean currents.
Side view of a fried egg jellyfish with accompanying fish.
Size and Appearance:
The fried egg jellyfish has a whitish screen up to 35 centimeters in diameter and a yellow bump in the middle resembling the yolk of a fried egg. It has eight central and many small arms ending in purple button-like swellings.
The jellyfish is accompanied by many small fish that find shelter in the nettle threads. It has only a weak nettle poison and is harmless to humans.