Stinging
Carybdea marsupialis
Cubozoa (Carybdeidae)
This is the only endemic and common box jellyfish in the Mediterranean Sea. Unlike other Mediterranean jellyfish, it swims very fast and is attracted to artificial lights at night (lighthouses, ports).
Sting symptoms
Very stinging. Painful sting, burning sensation and red whip-like marks. Not life-threatening.
Identification
Small, perfectly transparent umbrella shaped like a cubic thimble. It has 4 distinct tentacles equipped with red or orange rings, located at each corner of the base.
Size
Umbrella: 3 to 5 cm / Tentacles: about 30 cm
Habitat
Sandy coastal waters. Rests on the bottom during the day, swims near the surface at night.
Scientific family
Cubozoa (Carybdeidae)
Community photos
Photos submitted and verified by Meduseo users. (16)
10/09/2026
Cannes
10/09/2026
Cannes
06/09/2026
Porto Recanati
06/09/2026
Porto Recanati
06/09/2026
06/09/2026
Hundreds gathered around the underwater lights on our boat. Some with tentacles 2-3 get long. None seen in the day.
04/09/2026
Lignano Sabbiadoro
04/09/2026
Lignano Sabbiadoro
01/09/2026
Pietrosella
01/09/2026
Pietrosella Elles étaient à 40 mètres du bord dans un lieu peu fréquenté j’ai pas pu prendre de photos car je suis tombé sur un banc de méduses toutes pe
23/08/2026
Málaga
23/08/2026
Málaga
22/08/2026
Gabicce Mare
22/08/2026
Gabicce Mare .
12/08/2026
El Puerto de Santa MarÃa
12/08/2026
El Puerto de Santa MarÃa
08/08/2026
Jesolo
08/08/2026
Jesolo There are a lot of these jellyfishes in the sea around Lido di Jesolo. Their size can go from 3 cm to 10-15 cm. They’re practically invisible.
04/08/2026
Gabicce Mare
04/08/2026
Gabicce Mare
31/07/2026
Lignano Sabbiadoro
31/07/2026
Lignano Sabbiadoro Visti 5 esemplari di cubo medusa al porto di Lignano sabbiadoro, vicino al faro rosso
15/07/2026
Massa
15/07/2026
Massa Stavo facendo snorkeling con il retino e ho avvistato una cubomedusa sul fondale sabbioso, ero a pochi metri da riva... è molto urticante
15/07/2026
Cervia
15/07/2026
Cervia Il porto è completamente infestato
03/07/2026
Jesolo
03/07/2026
Jesolo
14/06/2026
14/06/2026
Jellyfishcube
25/05/2026
25/05/2026
Floated slowly towards us, we quickly got out of the water. We're pretty sure it's a Tamoya Ohboya