The Texas Gulf Coast has recently become home to a spectacular spectacle—the arrival of the “pink meanie,” a giant jellyfish species with tentacles extending up to 70 feet. Despite its soft pink, candyfloss-like appearance, the pink meanie is a formidable predator in its ecosystem.
Jace Tunnell of the Harte Research Institute shared recent encounters with these creatures that can weigh more than 50 pounds. He recounted seeing one wrapped around a moon jellyfish, its main dietary target.
The pink meanie depends on warm waters and abundant moon jellyfish populations to thrive. These moon jellies drift with currents and serve as the primary food source, making the pink meanie’s population closely tied to theirs.
Researchers only recognized Drymonema larsoni as a new species in 2011 after genetic testing revealed it did not belong with the Mediterranean counterparts they initially thought it was related to.
The pink meanie reminds us that oceans harbor many undiscovered species, and continued exploration is necessary to appreciate the full complexity of marine life.
