It is an exceptional discovery which was made on October 7.
The City of Lyon announced this Thursday that a freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii was identified in the aquatic pools of the Botanical Garden of Parc de la Tête d’Or.
Originally from the Yangtze basin in China, it was detected in Europe in the 1880s before appearing in Lyon in 1919.
Measuring between 2 and 25mm in diameter and feeding mainly on plankton, it only develops in clear, unpolluted water, the temperature of which is above 20°C.
“The presence of the freshwater jellyfish in the ponds of the Botanical Garden went unnoticed for decades, before being confirmed following a recent monitoring and study program for aquatic biodiversity”indicates the City of Lyon, which adds that the rediscovery of this species “highlights the importance of continuous monitoring of ecosystems, including in controlled environments like botanical gardens”.
“By allowing the public to rediscover and observe exceptional species such as the Craspedacusta sowerbii, the Botanical Garden continues to promote the diversity and richness of the plant world, by offering its visitors unique and educational experiences“, concludes the environmentalist municipality.
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