Pelagia noctiluca
Distribution:
Found globally in tropical and temperate waters.
Habitat:
Generally considered to be oceanic, but may be washed near shore.
Size:
60-90 mm bell diameter, as adults.
Diet:
Gelatinous organisms, planktonic crustaceans, fish eggs and larvae.
Predators:
Fish.
Useful Facts or Characters:
8 tentacles and 4 long oral arms. Color varies from purple to yellow. Often have warts that contain stinging nematocysts on the bell surface.
Natural History:
Common name is the mauve stinger. Has a painful sting. Known to form large blooms. Caused massive damage to penned salmon at a fish farm in Ireland in 2007. Has no benthic polyp stage. Rarely seen in southern California.
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