If you do any mid-water trawling at depths below 500 meters in many locations in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, you're likely to collect a few Crossota rufobrunnea.  Although the exumbrella is transparent, the brilliant dark-red subumbrella and manubrium are quite distinctive.  A close inspection of the exumbrella reveals a couple hundred fine furrows running from the bell margin to the apex.  The 250 or so tentacles are brownish-red in color.  This is a small jelly, with bell width to 1.5 cm.  The velum is relatively broad.  Visible in the photo are the 8 sausage-shaped gonads that are suspended near the apex.  They connect to the 8 radial canals.  The large manubrium has 4 lips and no peduncle.  

    A similar species, Crossota alba, is also found in deep-water habitats.  It lacks bell pigmentation,  and has a black manubrium and 8 white to tan gonads that are attached below the midpoint of the radial canals.   Another related species, Vampyrocrossota childressi , is of similar dimensions but is distinguished by its black coloration.  

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

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