Rare pink meanie jellyfish wash ashore along Texas coast with 70-foot tentacles
Late-summer sightings of Drymonema larsoni along the Gulf Coast; researchers describe brief lifespans and mild stings.
An unusually large jellyfish known as the pink meanie has washed ashore along a 10-mile stretch of Texas’ Gulf Coast, with at least 10 specimens reported this week, scientists said. The creature, Drymonema larsoni, has tentacles that can reach 70 feet and weigh as much as 50 pounds, according to researchers cited by Chron. Jace Tunnell, director of community engagement at Harte Research Institute, said the sightings this week fit a seasonal pattern for the species along the Gulf.
Late-summer and early-fall conditions along the Gulf typically bring pink meanies off the continental shelf to prey on moon jellyfish, among the region’s most common jellies. The pink meanies capture their prey with their long oral arms and secrete digestive juices to break the prey down. With tentacles up to 70 feet long and bodies that can reach 50 pounds, these jellies are among the largest seen in the Gulf.
Scientists confirmed in 2011 that the pink meanie is a distinct species, after scientists studied specimens and determined it did not match any known species. The pink meanie was first spotted in the Gulf by scientists in 2000, but initial reports suggested it was a Mediterranean species; later work established it as Drymonema larsoni. Since then, sightings have been reported in the Mediterranean and off South Africa, underscoring its unusual distribution.
Despite their fearsome appearance, the pink meanie’s sting is mild for humans. Scientists have estimated the pain at about 2 on a 10-point scale. If contact occurs, vinegar can help neutralize the stingers and remove tentacles. The species is not edible; once they wash ashore they typically evaporate or are eaten by birds.
Environmental conditions help explain the sightings. The pink meanies tend to appear when moon jellyfish are abundant, because the moon jellies provide the primary prey base. If there are no moon jellies—or if water temperatures drop—the pink meanies die off quickly. The current Texas sightings reflect known seasonal patterns, rather than a sudden expansion of the species. Scientists note that the occurrence of pink meanies in the Gulf has been sporadic but documented since the early 2000s.
The pink meanie’s life cycle remains tied to the availability of prey. In late summer and early fall, the pink meanies move along the Gulf Coast to hunt moon jellyfish, guiding their occasional appearances in Texas waters. If the ecosystem shifts—whether through temperature changes or jellyfish populations—observers say the pink meanies could become a rarer, more localized phenomenon rather than a regular Gulf fixture.
