A rare dark purple jellyfish has been floating off shore and washing up on the beaches of San Diego over the last few days.
Scientists say the jellyfish are Black Sea Nettles and they can grow up to 3 feet across with 30-foot-long tentacles.
Dr. Nigella Hillgarth of Scripps Institution of Oceanograph said that the jellyfish have been showing up along San Diego's coast more frequently lately, but they don't know why. it could be either because of warmer waters or plankton.
Sightings of these species of jelly fish are rare, but when they are seen, there are many of them. Scientists have noted that sightings seem to coincide with incidents of red tides, which consist of the zooplankton that Black sea nettles feed upon.
Parts of a jellyfish can sting even after they've become detached from their bell-shaped top and that is the case with this species. The sting causes skin irritation and redness that usually goes away in less than an hour. Lifeguards can help by treating the stings with a vinegar-and-water spray.
The black sea nettle has appeared in local waters about six times since 1926. The last visit was in 2007.
Since 2005, strange sightings have been happening along the coast. In January, thousands of jumbo squid - usually found in deeper waters washed up on local beaches.
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