They look like creatures from another planet, transparent and silent, lying on the sand like fragments of glass abandoned by the sea. In Cagliari, the Poetto beach woke up with an extraordinary visitor: hundreds of jellyfish landed on the shore, drawing a scene as fascinating as it is surreal.
This is most likely the Aurelia aurita, the so-called eared jellyfish, easily recognizable by its umbrella shape and the characteristic four flower-shaped lobes visible in the center of the gelatinous body. Despite its exotic appearance, this species is little or not at all stinging, and does not represent a danger to humans .
The mass arrival of these jellyfish is not a rare phenomenon in the Gulf of Cagliari, especially in periods in which certain natural factors combine: sea currents, sirocco winds, rough seas or simply the life cycle can push them to the shore. On some calm days, like today, the show repeats itself in silence, almost with elegance .
Jellyfish, in fact, are planktonic animals and are easily transported by the sea. All it takes is a change in the current or a meteorological event to see them arrive in large numbers. And when they beach themselves, they almost seem to be carefully placed on the shoreline, in a natural design that leaves you speechless .
Even if they are beached and apparently harmless, some can still release stinging substances, so it is always best to avoid direct contact with the skin .
Meanwhile, the people of Cagliari and curious tourists stop, take photos, and shoot videos.