Erie, Pa (WJET/WFXP)– When thinking of places you might find a jellyfish in the water, Presque Isle State Park may not be at the top of the list, but one keen-eyed intern at the park managed to capture a freshwater jellyfish on camera.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection summer intern Ray was at the docks of the Presque Isle Marina when he found the rare invertebrate swimming through Marina Lake, part of Presque Isle Bay.
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According to the United States Geological Survey, only one unit of these freshwater jellies has been recorded in Erie County, which was found in 1999 in Fairview Township.
Scientifically known as Craspedacusta sowerbyi, the DEP said these “fish” are extremely rare, typically remaining as polyps on the bottom, although they sometimes develop into the recognizable jellyfish shape known as a hydromedusa.
Like all jellyfish, they’re also not considered fish; instead, they’re classified as hydrozoans and can be quite hard to spot, measuring only 5–25 mm in diameter.
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While seeing a jellyfish out in saltwater means you should steer clear lest you risk getting stung, freshwater jellies like the sowerbyi don’t sting people due to their short stingers, according to the USGS…