Phyllorhiza punctata


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Distribution: 
Native to the Indo-Pacific, they have been introduced into Hawaii, southern California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the tropical Atlantic.
Habitat: 
Bays and other nearshore waters.
Size: 
200-500 mm bell diameter, as adults.
Diet: 
Small crustaceans and other zooplankton.
Useful Facts or Characters: 

Large bell that can be brownish, yellowish, or bluish in color with 8 oral arms, often with white tips.  Bell has white or silver spots.

Natural History: 

Active swimmers.  Seen from June to August in Southern California.  The polyp has not been found in the field, but planula larvae have been removed from females and cultured in laboratory environments.

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