Invertebrate
Pacific Sea Nettle
Chrysaora fuscescensAlso known as West Coast Sea Nettle
Pacific sea nettles drift through coastal ocean waters, propelling their golden-brown bells with rhythmic contractions that draw small organisms into trailing tentacles. Four spiraled oral arms hang from the center of the umbrella to transport paralyzed prey into the mouth. Large seasonal blooms create shimmering underwater displays along the West Coast, providing crucial food for sea turtles and ocean sunfish.
MarineJellyfishStinging
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyZooplankton, Fish Larvae, Ctenophores
Predators
- Ocean Sunfish
- Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Chum Salmon
ThreatsMarine pollution, ocean acidification, climate-driven temperature shifts
HabitatsOpen ocean, coastal waters, bays, estuaries
Life span1–2 years
Classification
- OrderSemaeostomeae
- FamilyPelagiidae
- GenusChrysaora
- SpeciesChrysaora fuscescens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Trailing tentacles possess stinging nematocysts; maintain a safe distance while swimming or diving.
- Why it is dangerous
- Nematocysts on trailing tentacles inject toxins that cause a painful burning sensation and skin rash.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by a golden-brown bell up to 50 cm wide with fine marginal tentacles and four ruffled oral arms.
- What to do
- Avoid touching live ocean floaters or washed-up beach specimens, as nematocysts remain active after death.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Admire floating blooms from a boat, pier, or aquarium to safely appreciate their motion.
- Beach Safety: Give washed-up specimens a wide berth because stingers remain active out of water.
- First Aid: Rinse accidental stings with vinegar or salt water rather than fresh water.
Predator U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Public domain · cc0
Predator (c) Pam Kleinsasser, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pam Kleinsasser · cc-by
Close Relative "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
Close Relative (c) John Hepburn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John Hepburn · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Mike Baird, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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