Scientists discover new jellyfish species in waters off Alicante in Spain
The Mediterranean Sea still holds species unknown to science. One of them is Copula lucentia, a tiny jellyfish measuring just a few millimeters. Discovered off El Campello, in Alicante, it was formally described in 2024 by a research team at the University of Alicante (UA) Marine Laboratory in Dénia, which forms part of the university's Ramón Margalef Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental…
Scientists have identified a new species of jellyfish, Copula lucentia, in the waters off Alicante, Spain. Measuring just 1 to 7 millimeters in size, this tiny jellyfish belongs to the box jellyfish group and was first discovered off El Campello during a sampling campaign in 2016 to 2018. The discovery was made by researchers at the University of Alicante's Marine Laboratory, who combined morphological studies with genetic analysis of specimens collected in the area.
The species is named after the Latin name for Alicante, Lucentum. To date, Copula lucentia has only been recorded off El Campello, making this coastal stretch a crucial site for further research. Despite the extensive study of the Mediterranean Sea, this discovery highlights the continued discovery of new species within one of the world's most thoroughly explored regions.
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