A JELLYFISH that resembles a thistle has been seen for the first time in 50 years in a rock pool in South Uist.
For almost 50 years, Depastrum cyathiforme has not been seen, with fears it was globally extinct.
The stalked jellyfish was last seen in Roscoff, northern France, in 1976.
Holidaymaker Neil Roberts found the jellyfish after turning over a rock and examining the sea life underneath.
He said he had a "niggle of doubt” when he searched online and found historic pen drawings and watercolours of the species which matched what he had seen, but was then “well chuffed” when experts verified the discovery from his photos.
The rediscovery, revealed by British Wildlife magazine, has been confirmed by a follow-up search which successfully found another individual Depastrum cyathiforme.
There is now hope of a stable population present in the Outer Hebrides.
Guy Freeman, the editor of British Wildlife magazine, said: “When Neil first shared the photos it was like seeing a ghost.
“This thing that had only ever existed in old drawings was suddenly there, in the flesh. It is really encouraging that the jellyfish was still there this summer, two years after Neil’s find, but now we need to widen the search and work out whether it survives anywhere else.”
Allen Collins, a global expert on stalked jellyfish based at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, said: “This is really a remarkable find, and I was so happy to learn about it. We can now be certain that this rarely encountered species persists. I am hoping that more individuals will soon be found.”
Christine Johnson, from Outer Hebrides Biological Recording, added: “We are always excited when a species new to our islands is reported, but it is not every day that it is confirmed that it is one which was once feared to be extinct.
"This is a wonderful example of the contribution made to our knowledge of the biodiversity of the Outer Hebrides and the United Kingdom by local naturalists.”
