Pacific Sea Nettle
Scientific Name: Chrysaora fuscescens
Category: other
Brief Description
A large, floating marine invertebrate known for its striking bell and trailing tentacles.
Characteristics
Discoid golden-brown bell with 24 reddish-brown tentacles and four long, frilly oral arms. The bell can reach up to 1 meter in diameter in the wild.
Habitat
Pelagic zones of the ocean, often found in coastal waters where upwelling occurs.
When to Find It
Commonly seen in large swarms during the summer and autumn months.
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated
Ecological Role
Acts as both a predator of zooplankton and small fish, and a food source for sea turtles and large fish.
Easily Confused With
Atlantic Sea Nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha), which is typically smaller and found in the Atlantic ocean.
Observation Tips
Best observed in large public aquariums or from boats in coastal California waters; avoid contact as their sting is painful to humans.
Interesting Facts
They are composed of about 95% water and have no brain, heart, or blood, relying on a simple nerve net to sense their environment.