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A dead jellyfish that recently washed up on a UK beach shows its last meal – a whole, rather surprised fish – through its translucent bell, stunning photos reveal.
Jelly is a compass jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella), named for its brown V-shaped markings that resemble the lines of a compass. The juvenile fish inside has not yet been identified.
Local photographer Ian Watkin spotted the bizarre gout during his morning walk with his dog near Padstow in Cornwall on August 4, according to The daily mail. “It’s not something you see every day,” he said.
Related: 13 weird things washed up on beaches
Juvenile fish are known to seek refuge in the tentacles of jellyfish. However, the protector has become a predator for this particular fish, as experts believe it was stung to death by the jelly and would have been slowly digested in its rudimentary stomach, known as the coelenteron, if the jelly had not. had not been washed ashore, according to Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
“Often jellyfish are used as nurseries by juvenile fish because they hide among their tentacles to protect themselves from predators”, Cornwall Wildlife Trust said in a Facebook post. “Sadly, this one appears to have been stung and has become the compass lunch.”
Compass jellyfish grow to around 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter and are commonly seen in UK waters between May and October. They feed on small fish and crabs, as well as other jellyfish, and their sting can be very painful but not fatal to humans, according to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
The one-of-a-kind photo was taken by chance during National Sea Week, an initiative set up by the Wildlife Trusts – a group of regional conservation groups in the UK – to showcase the unique marine life around the UK coastline.
Originally posted on Live Science.
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