Last night (Monday 25/10/21) a veteran swimmer and diving instructor, Racheli Or Shema, reported to me about unidentified burns that appeared on her skin, when she got out of the water at Meridian Beach at sunrise, as usual. Or regularly visits Meridian Beach, where She has her morning swim.
According to her report, while swimming, she felt a strong burning light on her skin. When she got out of the water, she noticed some kind of blisters, and as time passed, the area swelled a little. After not much time, she said, the signs of injury disappeared and with them the pain.
I went out to Meridian to find the person responsible for the burns. After not finding anything that might enlighten my eyes on the subject, I continued to the Bat Galim beach area, where there is a certain section that I usually visit to photograph jellyfish.
Even before the dive, I met, just as they were coming out of the water, a group of swimmers. They approached me to show me the burns that appeared on them as well, on all parts of their bodies - on the forehead, face, neck, arms, everything looked like the blisters that appeared on Racheli. The swimmers were very curious and wanted to know what was the thing that stung them like that, unidentified and at the time.
Right after I said goodbye to the swimmers, I did a free dive of about two and a half hours, during which I saw mergansers, a colony of colonial salps, plankton and other species of plants and small creatures.
Only after a long hour, one creature was caught by my camera lens, a single detail that I was able to pick up, its size was about two centimeters. The same creature, I assume in the light of my experience from last year at this time (I emphasize that this is a hypothesis, although based on experience), is the one responsible for these burns.
As mentioned, last year, we experienced a similar phenomenon of burns of this kind on the beaches of Haifa, although to a lesser extent.
The little creature looks like Rhizophysa filiformis to me. It is very difficult to photograph it and notice its tiny details, which are also semi-transparent. All this when it is found in the night of plankton, floating algae, remains of algae and shoals of fish, mainly Ethrina fish.
I emphasize that this is a hypothesis, since, in order to know for sure what the cause of these bites is, it must be captured and brought to a thorough examination.
For those of you who are afraid of the stinging creature, I would like to point out that the Rophilma nomadica that appears in the summer months, the wandering threadworm, whose sting is familiar to many, its sting is strong and much more painful, and sometimes the pain of its impact may last for three days and even leave scars.
This is not the case with the Rhizophysa filiformis burn. Even if it is not pleasant, it does not harm those who spend time and swimmers enjoying the sea, what is more, clothing made of expensive lycra, or a swimming or surfing suit, will provide protection from it, so that its presence in the water does not harm the routine of swimming and spending time at sea.
In light of my extensive experience and the many diving hours I have accumulated over the years, I allow myself to say that in this case, the first swallow heralds that there are many more like it.
Indeed, this morning (Tuesday) when I arrived at the beach to follow that "swallow", I met other swimmers who were "kissed" by the small transparent creature, its burns appear in the pictures before you.
If you also had the chance to meet him, rub the place a little, it will ease the pain, which will also disappear within an hour.
Hello Itzik.
There is no such animal in marine biology,
It's a popular nickname used in the language. In fact, like there is a myth that there are no jellyfish... but there are burns and they treat it as if they were jellyfish eggs.
In any case, thank you for the report. It is interesting that it is precisely in the south that suffer from them more.
happy hanucah.
I would go in the direction of "sea lice". We in the south have suffered badly from them in recent years
Hello Anat.
It is always good to report any hazard to the municipality or the authorities.
The sea is actually the inner space of the earth....and the hidden over the visible.
Hello Yael.
You're right. It's unpleasant to rub a place where you live, but the rubbing removes hunting arms, for active venom cells.
Gulf of surges - exactly the same phenomenon. Excessive rubbing of the bite site helps,
But definitely not pleasant.
At the height of summer this year we swam at Bat Galim beach. When we got out of the water we found that my face was red blotchy and I had blisters on my arms with no color. It didn't burn or bother, but we thought there was contamination and called to report it to the municipality.
Same as above at the cliff beach in Tel Aviv. I got burned, half a day passed, but the next day the wounds appeared - itchy like crazy and they last at least a week with the itching causing skin injuries. I assume it's hypersensitivity or an allergy to the substance.
I suppose there are quite a few who suffer for days - like me (for my friends with whom I swam, the burns went away half a day later - and did not return with worsening as I described).
Hello Lahav.
Rubbing the spot we disperse the poison,
Rather, it removes the venom cells from the affected area.
Don't compare the injection of venom by fish to the nematocysts of bemadusa.
Thanks for the explanation
(I answered before I saw that you responded to Tomer apologizing)
These creatures are called:, sea lice. appear when the water temperature drops, this season.
Usually in November. They stay in the sea water for about 3 weeks. It's hard to notice them. Their burning causes itching and red dots on the skin. This is a phenomenon of the last 7 years or so.
To Moti, thank you for the fascinating and insightful article as always.
I swam this week on Tuesday at the student beach. I also felt minor burns and I think Esti is right because I saw things in the water that resemble siphonophores
Yes, dear Avner.
We live with them in Shkad
Shalom Yehuda.
A lycra suit always helps.
But the name sea louse is a mistake. There is no such animal.
In any case, jellyfish stings are more painful
Interesting article.
This season I experienced severe sea louse burns.
But on his face these bites are localized and not superficial like the sea louse.
As always, a suitable garment solves the problem
Thank you Ayelet
Indeed the warming contributes a lot to such phenomena.
In recent years it has become a routine, but this year especially.
Tomer Shalom.
I personally do this for all the jellyfish
But each and what is best for him. There are those who like vinegar.
So, in my opinion, there are no rules. I personally use vinegar. The gentle rubbing action removes the nematocysts, just like Saber's spines.
A fascinating article by Apo on all the information and knowledge of Mr. Mendelsohn who always enjoys reading his articles
Interesting article like all the articles you write
Thank you for the information
The treatment of spot rubbing for all types of jellyfish?
On the contrary, jellyfish should not be rubbed, as Muti wrote, because it spreads the poison
The case of the article does not deal with jellyfish stings.
The feature that I think Muti previously explained is that rubbing the burn area disperses the poison. But with doing it using something hard and thin like a Telecard card, etc. (yes, I know there are no Telecards anymore)
What stunning photos!!!
When are they expected to leave us? Is it considered strange that they are with us at this time and is this related to global warming?
In the sea, jellyfish rule, on land pigs rule, each time there is less room for humans
How good it was spared me. ??Thanks as always for the information.