It is not unusual that during the summer months bathers occasionally come face to face with a number of jellyfish near the Maltese coasts.

However, not all species of jellyfish are damaging to humans. There are jellyfish which, despite their big size they can frighten people, they do not actually sting. These include the fried egg jellyfish, known as ‘il-qassata’ in Maltese.

Speaking with tvm.com.mt on such species, maritime biologist Sandra Agius Darmanin
stated that one should not be afraid of the fried egg jellyfish as, contrary to the pink jellyfish we normally see in our sea, it only stings slightly and people do not feel anything.

Dr Agius Darmanin stated that, among others, the fried egg jellyfish resembles a fried egg for its flat form, with yellowish to orange colour, and can be as big as less than half a metre. It occasionally emerges a number of pink spotted legs. Dr Agius Darmanin said that the ‘qassata’ is also capable of swimming as it doesn’t follow only sea currents.

The maritime biologist added that this jellyfish is spotted in August and September when the ‘lampuki’ season starts. In fact, the fried egg jellyfish is frequently referred to as ‘tal-lampuki’.

Sors: Sandra Agius Darmanin

Ara wkoll:

“Jekk tinżel tgħum u tarah tersaqx lejh għax twaħwaħ bl-uġigħ”

“Tistadux kif ġieb u laħaq” – riċerkatriċi tisħaq li fl-ibħra tagħna hawn ħut perikoluż