Florida Jellyfish Beach

The city of clearwater is alerting swimmers to the presence of jellyfish on wednesday.

Florida jellyfish beach. The florida stingray. Cocoa beach florida a venomous and potentially deadly species of jellyfish are in the water and washing up onshore in cocoa beach florida on sunday august 30 2020. Lifeguards raised the purple flag tuesday and wednesday. Although the florida species of box jellyfish does not pack the extreme potency of the infamous australian box jellyfish dubbed the sea wasp the species that washes up on florida s beaches can still be life threatening and has a painful sting.

The lower gulf coast peninsula from the tampa area south to marco island seems to have fewer jellyfish. The heaviest concentrations of jellyfish occur on the atlantic ocean side of florida and in the panhandle region on the gulf coast. Man of war cannonball jelly moon jelly blue buttons by the wind sailor mushroom cap jelly purple jelly and more. Photos and descriptions to help you identify jellyfish found on florida beaches.

The most dangerous jellyfish is generally the man of war which is technically not a true jellyfish. Jellyfish are 95 percent water and most are harmless but some can cause mild rashes to extreme allergic reactions. The box jellyfish can be identified by its box shaped bell. This species of box jellyfish are named chiropsalmus quadrumanus that has been previously collected by florida fish and wildlife staff offshore of brevard county florida.

When disturbed its nematocysts release a toxin that can harm smaller fish in the near vicinity and deter most predators. During the spring summer and fall seasons is where most people will run into a problem with the florida coast jellyfish. The jellyfish often wash up in large numbers after several days of onshore winds. Another innocuous jellyfish found on florida beaches the cannonball jellyfish stomolophus meleagris poses little threat to humans but can deliver a stunning blow to nearby prey and predators.

For those planning to hit clearwater beach city officials are reminding beachgoers to do the stingray shuffle lifeguards have raised the purple flag which is a warning to let beachgoers know there have been sightings of stingrays and jellyfish.