Head to head
Barrel Jellyfish vs Lion's Mane Jellyfish
Barrel Jellyfish
VS Lion's Mane Jellyfish
The barrel jellyfish and the lion's mane jellyfish are two of the largest jellyfish seen around Britain and Ireland, and they could hardly be more different in how they sting.
| Barrel Jellyfish | Lion's Mane Jellyfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Rhizostoma pulmo | Cyanea capillata |
| Relationship | A large jellyfish of coastal seas | A large jellyfish of cold seas |
| Bell | A dome-shaped, whitish to bluish bell, around 40 to 60 cm across, with a purple-blue edge | A bell commonly 30 to 50 cm across, and up to about 2 m in the far north |
| Tentacles | No long tentacles around the bell edge, but eight thick, frilly oral arms with many small mouths | Hundreds of tentacles in eight clusters, trailing 10 to 30 m and exceptionally to about 37 m |
| Sting | Mild for most people, though it can irritate sensitive skin | Painful but rarely dangerous to healthy adults, with burning, welts, and cramps, and detached tentacles still sting |
| Shelter for fish | Young whiting and horse mackerel shelter under the bell and among the arms | Small fish and juvenile prowfish and haddock shelter among the tentacles, apparently immune to the stings |
| Season and range | Appears in summer around Britain, Ireland, and the Mediterranean | Largest and most abundant in the Arctic and cold temperate Atlantic and Pacific |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated, but widespread and often abundant | Not Evaluated, and lives about a year, growing from a polyp in spring and dying in autumn |
Barrel Jellyfish vs Lion's Mane Jellyfish: common questions
Which jellyfish stings harder?
The lion's mane, whose sting is painful with burning, welts, and cramps, whereas the barrel jellyfish's sting is mild for most people.
Which one has no tentacles on its bell?
The barrel jellyfish, which has eight thick, frilly oral arms instead of long marginal tentacles.
Do fish live with them?
Yes, young fish shelter under both, whiting and horse mackerel with the barrel jellyfish and prowfish and haddock with the lion's mane.