North Sea jellyfish

Dr Richardson said: "In recent years they have occurred in quite large numbers particularly on the north-east coast of Scotland. Sightings of Portuguese man-o-war occur every few years in the UK but are rare this far north. Lion's Mane jellyfish were spotted on a beach at Prestwick As far as he is aware, no one has ever died from a jellyfish sting in the UK - but plenty have had a nasty shock. They are also found throughout European waters, especially in the Mediterranean.

Lion's Mane Jellyfish. Instead, he said it was important to remove the tentacles as soon as possible - as they will continue to sting while they are attached to the body.

If symptoms become more severe, or a sensitive part of the body has been stung, you should seek medical help. Common jellyfish can grow up to 30-40cm in diameter and are mostly transparent, except for pale pink to orange tentacles and gonads.Compass jellyfish are characterised by V-shaped brown stripes radiating out from the centre of the bell, much like the points of a compass.They are up to 30cm in size and have 24 long thin tentacles and four frilled "arms" hanging underneath. It prefers colder waters, so it is found mainly from North Wales, right up to the north of Scotland and beyond.The scalloped-edged bell is reddish-brown in colour and can range in size from 30cm up to two metres in diameter. But more common in British waters are the Mauve Stinger and Lion's Mane - both of which can give "electric shock" like stings.

The compass jellyfish are found mainly in the southern half of the UK during the summer months.Although not dangerous, their sting can be quite painful.This jellyfish is typically a bright blue/purple colour but there are also brown morphs. They don't tend to feel stings on their hands but on their face it hurts. The six types of jellyfish in British waters are: The Moon jellyfish – UK-wide. These are external links and will open in a new window Jellyfish use their stings to defend themselves from predators and to attack smaller creatures.

Pic: Paul NaylorA Lion's mane jellyfish has tentacles which trail for up to 20mBarrel jellyfish are harmless but do have a mild stingMauve stingers are common in the Mediterranean and can cause problems for beach touristsPortuguese man o' war are a colony of hydrozoans that live in open oceans on the surfaceVelella velella are not a true jellyfish but a floating hydranth Four long frilled arms hang underneath.It is rare in the UK and only found along the south coast in warm summers.The characteristic purple-blue oval-shaped float with "tentacles" hanging for up to tens of metres underneath is familiar to many people.It is not a jellyfish; instead a colony of hydrozoans.

Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia Aurita) The main prey for Sea turtles, tuna, sunfish, butterfish and spiny … "But it can't always defend itself from predators like leatherback turtles, ocean sun fish and gulls. Dwarf lion’s mane jellyfish on the beach. Dr Peter Richardson, the head of biodiversity and fisheries at the Marine Conservation Society, had a short answer to our query: "Not very". When a jellyfish is washed up on a beach and exposed to the wind and sun, the relatively fragile creatures are unlikely to live long. It is thought to live year round.The mauve stinger is common in the Mediterranean during the summer and due to its nasty sting, it can cause problems for beach tourism.It is relatively small (10cm) and is characterised by a more conical shape covered in pink or mauve warts. Stalked Jellyfish can be found on algae or rocks in shallow coastal waters and intertidally on shores around the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The largest …

The continued hot weather is bringing jellyfish to the shores of the North East coast of England. Third of complaints against Northumberland County Council upheld after ombudsman investigatesEmergency services called after teenager injured on Northumberland beachMick managed to photograph the mesmerizing jellyfish while walking along Ryhope beach in Sunderland last weekend.The 45-year-old salesman captured the image of a Bluefire jellyfish and warned they can be dangerous in or out of the water.He said: “As with all jellyfish, whether dead or alive, if their stingers are hydrated then they can still sting.”Following Mick’s amazing photographs, we have put together a list of jellyfish that can be found in the UK and what to do if you get stung.The UK is home to six different types of jellyfish and two species of jellyfish-like animals.They all tend to be more commonly found in other areas of the country, however they can all live in the North Sea.The two species of jellyfish-like animals, known as siphonophores, are The Portuguese man o’war (found along the south coast of England) and The by-the-sea-sailor (found along the South West and Welsh coastline).The stings of UK jellyfish range from mild, such as the Moon jellyfish, to very powerful, like from the Portuguese man o’war which carries the worst sting of all jellyfish and jellyfish-like animals.Fans of the TV show Friends may encourage you to urinate on the sting if you come into contact with a jellyfish to relief the pain however that will only irritate it further.According to NHS advice, most stings from sea creatures in the UK are not serious and can be treated with first aid.Rinse the affected area with seawater (not fresh water), remove any spines from the skin using tweezers or the edge of a bank card, soak the area in very warm water (as hot as can be tolerated) for at least 30 minutes – use hot flannels or towels if you cannot soak it and take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen.As well as not urinating on the sting, you should also not use vinegar, apply ice or a cold pack, cover the wound or touch any of the spines.This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)