The first batch of jellyfish was placed in alcohol for preservation and further study. However, after changing hands twice before reaching Qiu's research team in the middle of 2020, the specimens had become severely deformed by alcohol, Qiu said.

This deformation significantly hampered the team members' ability to observe and analyze the specimens clearly, forcing them to wait until the breeding season the following year to collect a fresh batch.

In 2021, with the new collection, the team conducted a series of DNA analyses, genus identifications and comparisons with other species, finally managing to officially identify the new species after three years.

"The fact that it was a new species was really encouraging for me," said Qiu, who emphasized that the discovery of such a rare breed in Mai Po, a well-studied reserve, underscores the rich biodiversity of Hong Kong's waters.

The Hong Kong Register of Marine Species shows that despite its relatively small marine area of 1,651 square kilometers — just 0.03 percent of China's total — the city's marine ecosystems support 26 percent of all marine species recorded in the country. The register is part of the World Register of Marine Species.

Such biodiversity is due to seasonal reversing winds, complex geology, variations in oceanic currents, a long-submerged coastline, diverse ecological habitats, and proximity to the Pearl River.

This is not the first time Qiu has helped identify species of unknown marine life observed in Hong Kong.