Professor Alan Deidun has shared a video captured by citizen scientist Erik van der Goot, featuring the Cestum veneris, more commonly known as the Venus girdle. This delicate, ribbon-like creature can be seen gliding gracefully through the water, its shimmering, translucent body drifting almost like a plastic bag in motion.
Unlike some of the more unwelcome visitors to Maltese waters during summer, the Venus girdle is completely harmless. Despite its jelly-like appearance, it does not sting and poses no threat to swimmers.
The Venus girdle is actually a ctenophore, not a jellyfish, more commonly known as a comb jellyfish. According to MedJellyRisk guidelines, this fascinating creature has a cosmopolitan distribution, and can be found in most sub-tropical and tropical oceans worldwide.
This particular ctenophore feeds on copepods and small zooplankton, which it captures using its tentacles and transports to a central mouth. When threatened, the Venus girdle performs an impressive escape response by rapidly undulating its body – a movement that can make it resemble a glowing ribbon or even a worm.
Known for its ability to produce bioluminescence, the Venus girdle can sometimes display a faint glow underwater, and its tentacles may appear tinged with yellow or violet pigments.
This exciting sighting highlights not just the beauty of Malta and Gozo’s marine life, but also the importance of citizen science in documenting and preserving our natural heritage. Keep your eyes peeled during your next swim – you might just spot one of these shimmering wonders gliding by.
Have you ever seen one?