One Texas beach recently looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie after a polka-dotted blob surfaced. And while it may have looked harmless, officials said the creature was an unwelcome visitor.
What happened?
On June 30, Padre Island National Seashoreposted a pictureof an Australian spotted jellyfish on its Facebook page, saying it recently turned up on the island’s North Beach.
The agency went on to explain that this sea creature was a long way fromhome— the species is native to the western Pacific Ocean but hasstarted to appearin the Gulf of Mexico in recent years.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, experts don’t know how the species started making its way over to the Americas, but suspect the animals might havehitched ridesby attaching to the hulls of ships as juvenile polyps
Why is this jellyfish concerning?
While the species is harmless to humans (its venom is too weak to cause any pain), this jellyfish poses a major threat because its voracious eating habits make it harder for local marine wildlife to find food, as the post explains.
“In the Gulf, this invader has formed huge swarms in recent years,” the TexasInvasive SpeciesInstitute told theFort Worth Star-Telegram. “Each jellyfish can clear 50 cubic meters (roughly 1,765 feet) of water filled with plankton in one day.”
Avariety of native animalslike fish, mollusks, and other jellyfish depend on zooplankton for nutrition.
One Texas beach recently looked like a scene from a sci-fi movie after a polka-dotted blob surfaced. And while it may have looked harmless, officials said the creature was an unwelcome visitor.
What happened?
On June 30, Padre Island National Seashore posted a picture of an Australian spotted jellyfish on its Facebook page, saying it recently turned up on the island’s North Beach.
The agency went on to explain that this sea creature was a long way from home — the species is native to the western Pacific Ocean but has started to appear in the Gulf of Mexico in recent years.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, experts don’t know how the species started making its way over to the Americas, but suspect the animals might have hitched rides by attaching to the hulls of ships as juvenile polyps
Why is this jellyfish concerning?
While the species is harmless to humans (its venom is too weak to cause any pain), this jellyfish poses a major threat because its voracious eating habits make it harder for local marine wildlife to find food, as the post explains.
“In the Gulf, this invader has formed huge swarms in recent years,” the Texas Invasive Species Institute told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Each jellyfish can clear 50 cubic meters (roughly 1,765 feet) of water filled with plankton in one day.”
A variety of native animals like fish, mollusks, and other jellyfish depend on zooplankton for nutrition.