Georeferenced semi-quantitative data of the jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) from 1810 to 2019 in the Mediterranean and Black Seas

This dataset is a gathering of historical and contemporaneous records of the medusae stage of Rhizostoma pulmo on its distributional range. The information was compilated to analyze biogeographical patterns and temporal changes of the species population dynamics. This compilation includes data available in websites and peer-review papers. All references are indicated. Data are individualized by month and year from 1810 to 2019, totalizing 7373 records. Longitude and latitude data are reported, as well as the country and the ecoregion (based on Spalding et al. (2007) classification). When the location was detailed (e.g. Bay, Port, Estuary), it is also indicated. The presence/absence category is designated, as well as the abundance or number of individuals reported in the literature. Other extra information (as collector name, sampling method or environmental parameters), when reported, are also provided.