WATCH: Fried egg jellyfish spotted at Gozo’s Ramla Bay almost a month earlier than usual
Summer seas are already heating up, and Malta’s marine life is responding! Local marine biologist Prof. Alan Deidun has shared a video of the season’s first fried egg jellyfish (Cotylorhiza tuberculata) spotted at Ramla Bay in Gozo, nearly a month ahead of its usual arrival.
Nicknamed the fried egg jellyfish due to its colourful, sunny appearance, this jelly usually starts popping up around the 15th of August, coinciding with the Santa Marija feast and the start of lampuki season. But this early arrival suggests that sea temperatures are already matching August levels – a reflection of Malta’s increasingly warm marine climate.
Locally, the jellyfish also goes by names like 'tal-lampuki' – a nod to the timing of its arrival – or 'qassata', a playful reference to its round, dome-like shape reminiscent of the beloved Maltese pastry.
And while they may look striking, there's no need to panic if you spot one. This species is entirely harmless to humans. It’s non-stinging and poses no threat to swimmers, so if you do come across one, take a moment to admire it, and please resist the urge to harm it.
Have you ever seen one?