A large jellyfish species with an incredibly powerful sting - and which was thought to have become extinct long ago - has been discovered off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
The last sighting of the rare Crambione cookii was back in 1910. The latest specimen was found by aquarist Puk Scivyer, who works at UnderWater World aquarium in Mooloolaba and was releasing a rescued sea turtle at the time.
She said: "As soon as I saw it I realised it was a species I'd never seen before.
"But to then discover I was the first person to see this species in over a hundred years was just incredible."
She added that it's the biggest jellyfish she's ever seen in Australian waters.
The scientist who saw the 1910 specimen also made a sketch of the jellyfish — and it was this sketch that was used by experts to identify the latest discovery, which was captured and is currently being cared for at the Underwater World aquarium.
Crambione cookii has a length of around 50cm/20" and has a sting so powerful it can be felt in the water around it. How it managed to remain out of sight for more than a century remains a mystery.
It will be observed closely at the aquarium in the hope that scientists can find out more about these elusive jellyfish. Whether any more will be found is something only time will tell.
You can see a news report, with footage of the jellyfish, in the video below:
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