SMALL WORLD

Swarm Of Toxic Jellyfish Found Off UK Coast

The Lion's Mane jellyfish, or Cyanea capillata, have a sting which can cause muscle paralysis, leading to suffocation and heart attacks.

The swarm of newcomers was first discoverd by diver Andy Pearson, who was surrounded by more than 200 of them while looking for basking sharks at Sennen Cove, Coverack Cove and Kynance Cove in southern Cornwall.
He also saw groups of the smaller and rarer blue jellyfish, which carry a nasty sting too.
Although he described the sight as "spectacular", Mr Pearson warned fellow divers and swimmers of the danger.
He said: "Usually there will be one or two but the jellyfish were literally everywhere in the water. It was worrying.

"Swimmers really need to be careful because the Lion's Mane can give a potent sting."

Ruth Williams, of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: "It's unusual to get them in such massive swarms in Cornwall."

The Lion's Mane is one of the largest species of jellyfish. While their sting itself is not lethal, their tentacles are covered in stinging cells which can cause blisters and severe muscular cramp, affecing the respiratory system and heart function.

The creatures, which can reach up to 10ft long, are normally found further north in the colder Arctic and northern Atlantic oceans, but the freezing winter has made the southern seas cold enough for them.

Angler pulls piranha from pond

A feared piranha has been caught in a British pond, thousands of miles from its common habitat in South America.

Angler Derek Plum, 46, caught the fish, regarded as the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world, at Radnor Park in Folkestone, Kent.

The 1lb 4oz catch was identified as a red-bellied piranha, whose diet consists mainly of fish, insects and worms.

Mr Plum told the Sun newspaper: "It took about 15 minutes to reel it in. When it emerged, it was thrashing around and was going crazy. The other fishermen were yelling 'You've caught a piranha'. I couldn't believe it."

Experts say that while piranhas would not survive in UK rivers, the introduction of non-native species poses a serious threat to native wildlife. Fish species commonly found in the pond include carp, tench and roach.

Reaching up to 14 inches long, the piranha is mainly found in the Amazon River basin in South America and is infamous for its razor-sharp teeth and for hunting prey in packs. In shoals, the piranha ambushes its prey, stripping the flesh of large animals such as anaconda snakes or even jaguar within minutes.