This unusual sighting of a whiting inside the bell of a compass jellyfish was made by Cornwall Wildlife Trust supporter Ian Watkin.

The find was made on Harlyn Bay Beach, near Padstow, during National Marine Week – which actually lasted 15 days from July 24 to August 8 to allow for variations in tide times around the country and focused on the species to be found in our seas, on our beaches and in our rockpools.

The explanation for how this fish found itself inside the jellyfish is that Juvenile fish often use jellyfish tentacles for protection from large predators but occasionally the tactic misfires and they are stung and eaten by their would-be protector.

Compass jellyfish are summer visitors to our shores and are so named because of the brown markings on their bell resembling points on a compass. As well as small fish they also feed on crabs and even other jellyfish. Although beautiful they can also give a very nasty sting with their tentacles – even with ones left behind detached from their bodies – so are best viewed from a distance.