Rare Jellyfish Turns Up On Long Beach Island

A very rare jellyfish that's probably never been seen in New Jersey before popped up on Long Beach Island this past week.

Suzanne Schnenker of New Hope Pa. told nj.com she was walking along the shore with her son and two dogs in Beach Haven when she found four blue button jellyfish on Sept. 25.

"They were so blue they almost looked unreal," Schnenker told nj.com. "I'm so glad I snapped a picture, but I just wish I had realized how rare they were at the time and saved one for the jelly spotters to do DNA testing on."

Here are the jellyfish:

Paul Bologna, a marine biologist at Montclair State University, posted on the New Jersey Jellyspotters Facebook page that the animal is very rare to New Jersey.

He asked if anyone sees any more, "we would love to get some samples. Holding in rubbing alcohol will preserve the DNA if anyone sees and grabs one. We can arrange a pick up of the samples."

Bologna told nj.com they are common in Florida and the tropics and believes that the ones Schnenker found came from Hurricane Florence. Blue buttons are "true jellyfish," and they do not pack as powerful of a sting, Bologna said.

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Schnenker