It's not too often that you will come across this little beauty.  Two very long tentacles on opposite sides of the bell distinguish it from most other Monterey Bay hydromedusae.  A small jelly, the bell can reach a height of about 7 mm (with a width slightly less)  and has a pointed apical top.  The large manubrium is covered by 4 highly folded horseshoe-shaped gonads; a quartet of radial canals is also present.  Around the margin are 14 small tentacles, each with a red ocellus.  The manubrium, gonads and paired tentacles often have a yellowish-brown color and are visible through the transparent bell.  Small siphonophores may be one of the prey items for this species.  It has been seen in surface waters off central California and Baja California.  A similar species, A. platyhedos, is a deep-water jelly found in British Columbia and southern California, which has unfolded gonads.   

All photographs © David Wrobel and may not be used or copied without permission!

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