Good to Know

Jellyfish in the Kruger

There’s always something new to see in the Kruger Park – now you can add freshwater jellyfish to your list. That’s right: This particular species has been recorded in other parts of the country, but never in the park. The jellyfish were found in stagnant pools in potholes at a place called Red Rocks in the Shingwedzi River, about 20 km west of the rest camp. They’re disc-shaped and about 1 – 2 cm in diameter, with multiple tentacles of different lengths. The DNA collected still has to be analysed, but the species is most likely Limnocnida tanganjicae, which is more common in lakes further north in Africa. Dr Izak Smit (pictured), a science manager in the park, first came upon the jellyfish in October 2016. It was pure coincidence: “My colleagues and I were hiking in the area between the Shingwedzi and Olifants rivers,” he says. “We had stopped to take a breather next to the potholes when I saw a jellyfish. I caught one in my coffee mug and called my colleagues over. Their disbelief was soon replaced by surprise.” Izak returned two weeks later to collect more jellyfish for the reference collection at Skukuza. It’s the first time a species from the phylum Cnidaria has been discovered in the park. This phylum includes thousands of marine jellyfish, anemones and corals, but only about 40 freshwater species. Here’s what’s written in a 2016 SANParks research report: “Discovering a freshwater jellyfish in the Kruger Park during one of the most severe droughts on record for the South African Lowveld shows how nature often operates in mysterious ways – and still has many secrets to be revealed.” More info: If you’re interested in the research being done in the Kruger, visit the SANParks website. Research reports are available at sanparks.org/conservation/reports/research_report.php