Chrysaora fuscescens

Chrysaora fuscescens
The Pacific sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens).
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Scyphozoa
Order:	Semaeostomeae
Family:	Pelagiidae
Genus:	Chrysaora
Species:	C. fuscescens
Binomial name
Chrysaora fuscescens Brandt, 1835

Chrysaora fuscescens (generally referred to as the Pacific sea nettle or the West Coast sea nettle) is a sea nettle, a common variety of true jellyfish (scyphozoan), found in the Pacific Ocean mostly near the coast from California to Alaska (perhaps also to Japan), although the species was originally described from individuals collected far offshore in the open North Pacific.^{[citation needed]} Some may suspect that the population is increasing because of human influences to coastal regions, but little to no historical population data from which to compare current abundances exist. This presumptive increase is thought to have a negative impact on populations of larval fishes.^[1]

Diameter of the body (the "bell") can be greater than 1 m (3 feet), although most are less than 50 cm across. The long, complicated, spiraling oral arms and the 24 tentacles may trail as far as 3.6 to 4.6 m (12 to 15 feet) behind the bell.^[1]

This species may be present in coastal waters in great numbers in the late summer. It is on permanent exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, and is also displayed at many other public aquariums in America and elsewhere, because it is colorful and relatively easy to maintain indoors.

Gallery

Closeup of the underside of a Chrysaora fuscescens, Pacific sea nettle.

References

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