The Marine Conservation Society is asking the public to keep its eyes peeled for the squelchiest visitors to UK shores. But how many jellyfish could you recognise?
The most frequently encountered jellyfish in UK waters is the Moon jellyfish. It has a mild sting and can be recognised from the four rings at the centre of the bell.
One of the rarest is the Portuguese Man Of War. While not technically a jellyfish (it is a colony of minute sea creatures), be sure not to get too close to find out - its sting can be fatal.
Although less deadly, the Mauve Stinger - as its name suggests - also has a powerful sting. Only 10cm across, it can be identified from the pink or mauve warts on its bell.
On a completely different scale, the Barrel or Root Mouth jellyfish can have a diameter of up to 1m. The pencil in this photograph gives some indication of the size.
Another monster is the Lion's Mane jellyfish. While most only reach 50cms, the species can grow up to 2m across. This stinging jelly can be identified from its red-brown colour.
The Blue jellyfish has a similar shape to the Lion's Mane, but is much smaller and with only a mild sting. Along with the Compass jellyfish, it can be found everywhere in the UK.
The Compass jellyfish, which also stings, has a 30cm diameter. It can be identified by the V-shaped markings on the bell.
The survey is hoped to provide information about another mysterious visitor - the leatherback turtle. While you might find the jellyfish a little disgusting, for the leatherback they make a delicious meal.
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