Species · GBIF taxon 2264442
Moon Jelly
Aurelia auritaAlso known as Common Jellyfish, Saucer Jelly, Moon Jellyfish
Moon jellies drift gracefully through coastal waters, propelled by the gentle, rhythmic pulsing of their translucent, saucer-shaped bells. Easily recognized by the four horseshoe-shaped reproductive organs visible through their clear bodies, these elegant drifters trap tiny plankton using a fringe of fine, short tentacles. They play a vital role in marine food webs, serving as a primary food source for sea turtles and giant ocean sunfish.
PlanktonicTranslucentMarine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Copepods
- Fish Larvae
- Brine Shrimp
Predators
- Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Ocean Sunfish
- Chrysaora Jellyfish
ThreatsOcean acidification, marine pollution, and coastal development
HabitatsCoastal waters, estuaries, and bays of the North Atlantic and Argentina
Life span1 to 2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyUlmaridae
- SpeciesAurelia aurita
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance; their mild sting is generally imperceptible to human skin.
Responsible observation
- Look for the Clover: Identify them by the four horseshoe-shaped reproductive organs visible through the top of the translucent bell.
- Observe the Drift: Watch them pulse gently near the surface of harbors and bays, especially during late summer blooms.
Predator Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Competitor "Pacific sea nettle jellyfish" by Guillaume Paumier is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Predator (c) Pam Kleinsasser, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pam Kleinsasser · cc-by
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