Almost 200 known species of jellyfish exist in the world and, right now, the coast of South Carolina is seeing an insurgence of a huge species that is native to Australia. Known as the Australian spotted jellyfish, this species has recently been identified in South Carolina. And those who’ve seen it in person say it’s positively mortifying.

That's because the Australian spotted jellyfish grows to the size of a beach ball, or as much as 24 inches in diameter.
YouTube/Rayappa Kasi
Jellyfish tend to cluster together in groups. A group of jellyfish is called a "smack," by the way. Which could describe how it feels to be bitten by one.
Wikimedia/CarlosVdeHabsburgo
Some say the venom from the Australian spotted jellyfish isn't potent enough to do real harm. But still... it's enormous and you don't want to find yourself swimming into this jellyfish smack.

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On November 4th, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources posted on its Facebook page a photo of an Australian spotted jellyfish that was taken in Murrells Inlet.
Wikimedia/Papa Lima Whiskey
In the hours and days that followed, page followers were commenting on the post about their own sightings in South Carolina with locations ranging from Garden City to Beaufort.
You may be wondering if there's a need to be concerned. There absolutely is.
YouTube/Rayappa Kasi
The Australian spotted jellyfish is a threat to local ecology. Each one filters 13,000 gallons of sea water every single day and it survives on plankton. It has the ability to do real damage to fish eggs, as well as the shrimp and crab population in our coastal waters. Not to mention it can cause some serious damage to boat motors.

See one swimming in the wild in this rare YouTube video of the Australian spotted jellyfish, posted by Rayappa Kasi:

If you spot an Australian spotted jellyfish, SCDNR is asking you to help federal officials keep up with the species by making an online report.

Ever see one of these in the wild? Let us know and post your photos in our Facebook comments!

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