For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
Compass Jellyfish thrive in warm water, and every summer many of these strange creatures get washed up with the tide and become stranded on U.K. beaches. For a creature called "Compass" they're really not too great at navigating.
Jellyfish aren't always welcome at the beach because of their painful stings, but there's no denying they're remarkable creatures. Especially as they're neither fish nor jelly! In fact they're more than ninety per cent sea water.
They have muscles which allow them to move up and down in the water, and four balance organs stop them going upside-down. Apart from that they're completely wave powered and they're generally at the mercy of the water currents. Even their food has to swim into their arms otherwise they go hungry.
If you find any on the beach it's best not to touch them as they have a painful sting - even the dead ones.
The Marine Conservation Society have produced an identification chart for jellyfish which can be downloaded here
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