A remarkable jellyfish that scientists feared had gone extinct has been rediscovered in a rockpool in the Outer Hebrides, almost 50 years since its last confirmed sighting. The depastrum cyathiforme was spotted by a holidaymaker exploring South Uist in Scotland who noticed the peculiar-looking creature. Scientists had believed the species to be globally extinct, with its final recorded appearance in northern France dating back to 1976.
This particular jellyfish, which anchors itself to rocky surfaces, disappeared from British waters during the mid-20th century, with its last UK sighting documented in Devon in 1954. Historical records show it was previously catalogued by British naturalists, including marine biologist Philip Henry Gosse, in south-western coastal areas and had only been known through illustrations.
Neil Roberts, who made the extraordinary discovery, was delighted to discover that his photographs from June 2023 were recently confirmed as depastrum cyathiforme.
The remarkable find could mean the species has reestablished itself in UK waters, raising hopes that others might be discovered across the Outer Hebrides.
Guy Freeman, editor of British Wildlife magazine, said: “When Neil first shared the photos it was like seeing a ghost.
“This thing that had only ever existed in old drawings was suddenly there, in the flesh.
“It is really encouraging that the jellyfish was still there this summer, two years after Neil’s find, but now we need to widen the search and work out whether it survives anywhere else.”
Allen Collins, a leading authority on stalked jellyfish based at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, added: “This is really a remarkable find, and I was so happy to learn about it.
“We can now be certain that this rarely encountered species persists. I am hoping that more individuals will soon be found.”
The jellyfish in question was first documented in UK waters back in 1846 on the Isle of Arran and has since been spotted around six Scottish islands as well as the Isle of Man.