As the record breaking heat wave continues to torment Russians, Mother Nature draws new surprises from its sleeves. A boat owner has caught half a dozen tiny freshwater jellyfish in the Moscow River.

The jellyfish, which are the size of a dollar coin, have been examined by biologists from Moscow University, who identified them as Craspedacusta sowerbyi. Such jellyfish can be commonly encountered in warm lakes and rivers in North America, Europe and Asia. They are harmless to humans and feed on plankton.

“It’s not that unusual, people bring jellyfish like that to us from time to time. This species has a polipoid development stage, in which they can survive for decades without transforming into a medusa,” commented Professor Nikolay Marfenin for RIA Novosti news agency.

He added that exotic creatures usually found only in warmer habitats sometimes dwell in lakes used for cooling of equipment at power stations.

He said the jellyfish in the Moscow River will not live long, but will produce offspring which will survive lower temperatures.