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Phylum
Cnidaria
See
also Stony Corals
Mobile
Stingers
Jellyfishes
HAWAII
Cassiopea andromeda
Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet |
Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet |
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UPSIDE-DOWN JELLYFISH
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An introduced species that is common on the silty bottom of harbors,
bays, and ponds. Attains 12 inches. Will release
powerful nematocysts into the water when disturbed. Contains
zooxanthellae and lays upside-down to expose tentacles to the
sun.
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Aurelia
sp.
Ala Wai Harbor, Oahu |
Ala Wai Harbor, Oahu |
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MOON JELLYFISH
| Abundant in enclosed bays and harbors worldwide. Has a very weak
sting. Attains 12 inches. |
Phyllorhiza
punctata
Waikiki Aquarium
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Waikiki Aquarium |
Waikiki Aquarium |
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WHITE-SPOTTED JELLYFISH
| Seasonally common in deep harbors. A worldwide species introduced
to Hawaii. Attains at least 18 inches. |
Thysanostoma
sp.
Moku Manu, Oahu
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Moku Manu, Oahu
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Kaneohe Bay, Oahu
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Kona Coast, Hawaii |
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PELAGIC JELLYFISH
| Inhabits the open ocean and attains at least 10 inches in diameter and
5 feet in length. Often accompanied by young jacks
& driftfishes. |
Cephea
cephea
Puako, Hawaii, 10 feet |
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CROWNED JELLYFISH
| A firm pelagic species occasionally seen by divers. Attains 6
inches. |
Unidentified
pelagic species
Corsair, Midway, 20 feet |
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Chondrophorines
Porpita
pacifica
BLUE
BUTTON
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Inhabits
the surface of the open ocean and occasionally washes ashore during storms.
Delicate
tentacles are sticky and extend from chambers in the gas-filled disc
(tentacles usually damaged in the surf). Said to deliver a
painful sting. Less than 1.5 inches in diameter. Worldwide
in warm seas.
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Velella
velella
Monterey Bay, California
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BY-THE-WIND
SAILOR
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Occasionally
seen along windward shores during strong winds. Short tentacles
are sticky and extend below the buoyant disc. Mild sting. Up
to 4 inches long. Worldwide in warm seas.
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Siphonophores
Physalia
utriculus
PORTUGUESE MAN-O'-WAR
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Common on beaches during
periods of strong onshore winds. Has a powerful sting. Large
ones have floats 3-4 inches long and the tentacles may extend 10 feet or
more. Preyed upon by Violet
Snails at sea and Ghost
Crabs & Mole Crabs on beaches. The rare Man-o'-War Fish
takes refuge near the tentacles in the open ocean. Collected at
Waimanalo Beach, Oahu.
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NORTHEAST PACIFIC
Chrysaora
colorata
Long Point, Catalina, California |
Long Point, Catalina, California |
PURPLE BANDED JELLYFISH
| Seasonally common in California, attains at least 15 feet, diameter of
2 feet. |
Cyanea capillata
Madrona Point, Vancouver Island, Canada
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Madrona Point, Vancouver Island, Canada |
Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Canada
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Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Canada |
Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Canada |
RED JELLYFISH
| A large species common in the Pacific Northwest. Bell at least 1
foot in diameter. |
WESTERN ATLANTIC
Chrysaora quinquecirrha
Wakiki Aquarium |
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SEA NETTLE
Phylum Ctenophora
Comb Jellies
Sea Tiger, Oahu, 30 feet |
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| Common inhabitants of the water column. |
Coeloplana bannwarthi
Wailupe, Oahu, 3 feet |
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| Cryptic in nature, usually only its feathery tentacles are visible.
Attaches to seaweeds & echinoderms. |
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