Sea Creature Spotted in Cape May –Identified
A recent post in the popular Facebook group “Cool Cape May” has residents buzzing after a strange sea creature was spotted in the waters of the bay.
Sea Creature Spotted in Cape May Bay–Identified
Samantha Peluso shared a photo of the unusual find, asking, “Does anyone know what this is? Saw it at the bay and I am not exactly sure of the name.”
It didn’t take long for the online community to weigh in, with several users correctly identifying the creature as a comb jelly.
For those unfamiliar, comb jellies, also called ctenophores, are often confused with jellyfish because of their clear, jelly-like appearance.
But here’s the kicker–comb jellies don’t sting! Unlike their jellyfish cousins, these creatures are completely harmless to humans, relying on sticky cells rather than stingers to catch their food.
The real spectacle, though, is in their looks. Comb jellies are known for their bioluminescence and the iridescent light show they put on as they glide through the water.
Their rows of cilia (tiny hair-like structures) scatter light, making them glow with shimmering rainbow colors, especially at night. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect to see in a nature documentary, not necessarily in Cape May Bay!
While sightings like this aren’t super common, comb jellies do show up in the area, particularly when the warmer waters of late summer bring them closer to shore.
They might be hard to spot unless you’re looking for them, but as Peluso’s post proved, they’re out there!
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Though delicate in appearance, these creatures are a key part of the ecosystem, gobbling up tiny plankton and keeping the marine food chain in balance.
One thing to add, many didn’t think that this photo was from our area due to how clear the water is in the photo. You may have noticed that we haven’t had a ton of rain in South Jersey in some time. When there isn’t much rain we see a cleaner ocean.
The waters look down and ugly due to the chemicals and products we use seeping into our rivers which drain our into the ocean. When we don’t have much rain, those chemicals stay where they are making the ocean clear.
If you’re hanging out at the bay, be sure to keep an eye on the water–you never know what cool creatures might be floating by! From dolphins to sea turtles to comb jellies, South Jersey’s waters are teeming with life.
So the next time you’re enjoying a day by the bay or walking along the beach, take a moment to appreciate all the amazing sea life that calls this area home
And if you happen to spot something unusual, you just might find yourself the next topic of conversation on our website just like the The Giant Water Bug which someone posted about last week.