01-08-2025
Species rediscovered nearly five decades after it was last seen
A distinctive jellyfish, the depastrum cyathiforme, feared globally extinct, has been rediscovered in a rockpool in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
The creature, which resembles a thistle flower, was last recorded in northern France in 1976 and had not been seen in the UK since 1954.
Tourist Neil Roberts discovered the jellyfish in South Uist in June 2023, with experts recently confirming its identity.
The rediscovery has been hailed as a remarkable find by experts, including Guy Freeman of British Wildlife magazine and Allen Collins from the Smithsonian Institution.
This finding prompts hope that the species has repopulated the UK and that more examples may be found on the Scottish island.
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