| Melicertum octocostatum Phylum Cnidaria / Class Hydrozoa / Order Leptomedusae / Family Melicertidae |
Here's
a jelly that plays on both coasts, being relatively common in coastal areas of
the North Atlantic, and also found widely in the North Pacific (Bering Sea south
to Oregon). Melicertum is a nearshore jelly that can also be found
in estuaries. It's a fairly distinct hydromedusa, with 8 bright yellow or
brownish-yellow linear gonads along the radial canals, easily visible
through the transparent bell. The bell reaches a maximum length of 14
mm. The stomach is short and broad. Numerous tentacles line the bell
margin, with up to 88 large tentacles alternating with smaller ones (the
tentacles are contracted in the photo). Prey includes copepods, polychaete
larvae and fish larvae.
All photographs © David Wrobel and may not be used or copied without permission!