Shoals of the tiny pearl-chain or string jellyfish were spotted inshore, when normally it would be found only in deep water. It is so-named because it is known to be capable of chain formations of up to 30m.
Last week Dr Keith Hiscock, of Plymouth's Marine Biological Association, said: 'They've been off Plymouth for about three of four weeks. It's an unusual event - there's no record of anything which would match that species.'
Further west, a diver, Neil Hope from Torpoint in Cornwall, came across the creature while diving off Land's End. He observed a collection of the jellyfish which, orange in colour, had formed a chain some 25cm long.
The creature is related to the Portuguese man o'war and can deliver a sting capable of killing a large fish. To a human, the experience would feel more like a wasp sting - but, as with insect stings, a proportion of human recipients could develop a severe reaction.
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