Big wow
The black sea nettle (Chrysaora achlyos) is a giant among jellies. As an adult, its bell can spread to over three feet in diameter, its frilly oral arms up to 20 feet long and its stinging tentacles to 25 feet or more.
It’s also a bit of a mystery. Blooms of this dark purplish jelly have appeared – and then disappeared – in California coastal waters sporadically over the past few decades. Scientists believe this jelly likely lives in deeper, calmer waters most of the time but various factors may be bringing blooms closer to shore, including agricultural run-off and a warming ocean.
Larger black sea nettles provide food and shelter for the Pacific butterfish. The fish feeds on the plankton gathered by the jelly, and hides in its bell when danger approaches.
We’ve exhibited a few black sea nettles over the years, some with bells larger than a human head. Our jelly team specializes in exhibiting exotic jellies, such as the ones you’ll see in The Jellies Experience. But hurry up and visit – the last day to see The Jellies Experience is September 7.
Learn more about the black sea nettle.
Our thanks to National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore for the wonderful images of our animals that he created for his PhotoArk project.
