Rhizostoma pulmo

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Rhizostoma pulmo
Barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo) (25515589773).jpg
Rhizostoma pulmo
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Scyphozoa
Order: Rhizostomeae
Family: Rhizostomatidae
Genus: Rhizostoma
Species:
R. pulmo
Binomial name
Rhizostoma pulmo
Macri, 1778
Synonyms
  • Medusa pulmo Gmelin, 1788
  • Rhizostoma Aldrovandi Péron & Lesueur, 1810

Rhizostoma pulmo, commonly known as the barrel jellyfish, [1] the dustbin-lid jellyfish or the frilly-mouthed jellyfish, is a scyphomedusa in the family Rhizostomatidae. [2] It is found in the northeast Atlantic, and in the Adriatic, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Azov. It is also known from the southern Atlantic off the western South African coast and into False Bay. [3] They are found typically in late summer, and early fall in increased populations which are known as blooms. This is due to higher temperatures and other environmental factors such as wind. [4] [5] [6]

It is common in the Irish Sea. It typically is up to 40 cm (16 in) in diameter, but can exceptionally reach 150 cm (59 in) or larger, [7] [8] making it the largest jellyfish in British and Irish waters ( Cyanea capillata reaches an even larger size, but is generally smaller in Britain). The species can grow up to one meter (3.2 feet) and weigh up to 25 kilograms (55 lbs). However, they are not larger than the lion's mane jellyfish. [9]

Rhizostoma pulmo is moderately venomous compared to other species. Effects include a mild burning sensation on the skin, dermatitis, and ulcers which confirms it is toxic but does not pose a serious threat to humans. [10]

It is a favourite food of the leatherback turtle. [11]

Rhizostoma pulmo washed ashore at Bournemouth in southern England Rhizostoma pulmo on Bournemouth Beach.jpg
Rhizostoma pulmo washed ashore at Bournemouth in southern England
Orifice of a barrel jellyfish Orifice on Rhizostoma pulmo.jpg
Orifice of a barrel jellyfish

In Asia, they are a source of bioactive compounds used in traditional food and medicine. [12] One study indicates that washing in aqueous solutions and the separation of high molecular weight proteins from the extract, e.g., by membrane filtration, could be a way to remove possible toxic compounds from jellyfish extracts and to concentrate potentially bioactive soluble compounds. The potentially active soluble components may have uses as nutraceutical and cosmeceutical ingredients. [13]

References

  1. Aquarium of Genoa – species description: Rhizostoma pulmo. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Dustbin-lid jellyfish - Rhizostoma pulmo". MarLIN. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  3. Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN   978-1-77007-772-0
  4. Dönmez, M. A.; Bat, L. (2023). "Distributions of Rhizostoma Pulmo (Macri, 1778) between the Kızılırmak and the Yeşilırmak coast of the Black Sea, Türkiye". Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies. 52 (3): 273–286.
  5. Leoni, V.; Molinero, J. C.; Meffre, M.; Bonnet, D. (2021). "Variability of growth rates and thermohaline niches of Rhizostoma Pulmo's pelagic stages (cnidaria: Scyphozoa)". Marine Biology. 168 (7): 1–19.
  6. Reyes Suárez, N. C.; Tirelli, V.; Ursella, L.; Ličer, M.; Celio, M.; Cardin, V. (2022). "Multi-platform study of the extreme bloom of the barrel jellyfish rhizostoma pulmo (cnidaria: Scyphozoa) in the northernmost Gulf of the Mediterranean Sea (gulf of trieste) | in April 2021". Ocean Science. 18 (5): 1321–1337.
  7. "Rhizostoma pulmo, barrel jellyfish". www.sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  8. "Massive, Human-Size Jellyfish Stuns Divers off the Coast of England". Live Science . Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  9. "Humans Who Swam Along a Human-Sized Jellyfish". Mirror Herald. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  10. Mariottini, Gian Luigi; Pane, Luigi (4 April 2010). "Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae". Marine Drugs. 8 (4): 1122–1152. doi: 10.3390/md8041122 . PMC   2866479 . PMID   20479971.
  11. "COAST : Community of Arran Seabed Trust - Barrel Jellyfish". www.arrancoast.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  12. Omori, Makoto; Nakano, Eiji (1 May 2001). "Jellyfish fisheries in southeast Asia". Hydrobiologia. 451 (1): 19–26. doi:10.1023/A:1011879821323. S2CID   6518460.
  13. De Domenico, Stefania; De Rinaldis, Gianluca; Paulmery, Mélanie; Piraino, Stefano; Leone, Antonella (2019). "Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo) as Source of Antioxidant Peptides". Marine Drugs. 17 (2): 134. doi: 10.3390/md17020134 . PMC   6410228 . PMID   30813405.