Blubber Jellyfish
Scientific Name: Catostylus mosaicus
Category: other
Brief Description
A dome-shaped jellyfish with thick, fleshy oral arms instead of long trailing tentacles.
Characteristics
Large, bell-shaped body (medusa) that can reach 35cm in diameter. It has eight thick, frilly oral arms and lacks the stinging tentacles found in many other jellyfish. Color varies from creamy white to light blue or purple.
Habitat
Coastal waters, estuaries, and bays; often found in large swarms.
When to Find It
Commonly seen during the summer months when water temperatures rise.
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated
Ecological Role
Acts as a food source for sea turtles and certain species of fish; also preys on plankton and small crustaceans using stinging cells on its oral arms.
Easily Confused With
Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita), which have flatter bells and small marginal tentacles, whereas Blubber Jellyfish have distinct bulbous oral arms.
Observation Tips
Look for them in sheltered coastal waters or professional aquariums under UV lighting. Do not touch even though they lack long tentacles, as their oral arms still contain stinging cells.
Interesting Facts
In some Asian cultures, this jellyfish is harvested and processed for human consumption. Its color is often determined by the presence of symbiotic algae within its tissues.