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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Flaminia Luck

Massive Lion's Mane jellyfish spotted off Whitley Bay

An enormous Lion's Mane jellyfish, one of the largest known species of jellyfish in the world, has been photographed in Brown's Bay.

The species is named after its mane of long, orange, hair-like tentacles reminiscent of that of a lion.

The huge creature was spotted on 15th August by keen scuba diver Darren Martin who often dives in the popular diving spot in Whitley Bay.

Read more: 150 water voles released in Northumberland as project hailed a success

He said: 'It was about 18 inches across the bell (top) and the tendrils were over 2m long.'

'I was not worried about seeing it as I've seen lots before.

'The tendrils do have a sting like a nettle sting that can spread to the rest of your body and can last a day or two.'

Lions Mane Jellyfish2 (Darren Martin, Instagram)

Luckily these stings aren't dangerous to humans but their size is enough to scare anyone and they can even rival the length of blue whales, the largest animal on earth.

The diver pictured in the photo, Chris Hackers, is holding out his hands to demonstrate the staggering size of the creature.

Lion's Mane jellyfish are mainly found in the colder waters of the North Pacific and Arctic Ocean but divers have seen them before off the North East coast.

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