Moon Jellyfish

Aurelia aurita

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The moon jellyfish has a translucent bell with four conspicuous horseshoe-shaped reproductive structures. Its life cycle alternates between attached polyps and swimming jellyfish.

At a glance

Location: Coastal marine and brackish waters.
Habitat: Coast
Diet: Carnivore
Food: Plankton, small invertebrates and fish eggs.

Classification

Common name: Moon Jellyfish
Browse group: Jellyfish and hydrozoans
Scientific name or taxon: Aurelia aurita
Taxon rank: species
Order: Semaeostomeae
Family: Ulmaridae
Genus: Aurelia
Source classification: Scyphozoa

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Measurements

Size and speed

Span: 10 to 35 cm bell diameter

Typical adult ranges. Source: Animal Diversity Web.

Three things to know

Four horseshoe-shaped structures are visible through the bell.
Attached polyps form part of its life cycle.
Small planktonic animals are among its prey.

Habitat and range

Coastal marine and brackish waters.

Appearance and adaptations

Fine tentacles fringe a transparent bell. Four longer oral arms help transfer captured food toward the digestive system.

Diet and behaviour

Small prey becomes trapped around the bell and tentacles before being moved inward. Bell contractions provide movement, while currents also carry the animal.

Sources

Animal Diversity Web: Aurelia aurita
A–Z Animals: Moon Jellyfish · Directory entry

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