UK Seas

Discover the wonderful sea creatures that inhabit the UK seas and shores

UK seas is a guide to the fauna and flora found around UK coasts. While the majority of species are marine, some species are included that are regularly encountered on land by the coast, so you’ll find descriptions of non-marine species such as reptiles, amphibians, insects and plants as well.

Barrel jellyfish

Rhizostoma octopus

Type

Cnidarians, Jellyfish

Description

A surprisingly substantial jelly, robust and spherical, with no tentacles but eight thick frilled arms. It is bulky and white with pretty purplish fringe.

This is a favourite food of the leatherback turtle and the ocean sunfish - two of the very biggest creatures to ever visit UK seas.

Location

The Irish Sea seems to be a hotspot for them, in spring and summer

Habitat

Subtidal, Open ocean