Photograph of a Fish Trapped in a Jellyfish Goes Viral

Posted on June 7, 2016

Photographer Tim Samuel captured this amazing photograph of a fish apparently trapped inside of a jellyfish. The photograph was taken in the waters off Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia.

Samuel writes on his Instagram page, "I found this fish trapped inside a Jellyfish while freediving in Byron Bay. He was trapped in there but controlled where the Jellyfish was moving."

Samuel told Australian Geographic that the fish appeared to be "completely trapped in there." He says, "The fish was able to propel the jellyfish forward and controlled its movement to an extent, the jellyfish threw it off balance though and they would wobble around, and sometimes get stuck doing circles."

Samuel decided against freeing the fish. The fish appears to have a scared expression on its face but it might not be all that worried. Australian Geographic interviewed Ian Tibbetts, a fish biologist at the Centre for Marine Science at the University of Queensland. Tibbetts thinks the fish could be a juvenile trevally. These fish are known for seeking shelter among the stingers of some jellyfish. Somehow the fish got too close and ended up inside the jellyfish but it might not be trapped.

Tibbetts says, "It's difficult to tell whether disaster has just struck, or whether the fish is happy to be in there." The fish is safe providing it has a way back out of the jellyfish.

T R A P P E D - Woke up this morning to my phone going crazy due to one my photos being reposted by @discoverocean. Here's another photo from that day. I found this fish trapped inside a Jellyfish while freediving in Byron Bay. He was trapped in there but controlled where the Jellyfish was moving. Prints are available through my website - link in bio

A photo posted by Tim Samuel (@timsamuelphotography) on


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