Species · GBIF taxon 8071247
Flower Hat Jelly
Olindias formosusAlso known as Flower Hat Jellyfish
Flower hat jellies drift like ornate, translucent lanterns through the coastal waters of the northwestern Pacific. By day, these striking hydrozoans anchor themselves to rocks and algae on the seafloor, but at night they ascend to hunt small fish with their brilliant, multicolored tentacles. Their highly distinctive bell features pinstripes and a crown of fluorescent pink and green tips that lure prey.
BioluminescentNocturnalMarine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Small fish
- Copepods
- Larval crustaceans
Predators
- Sea turtles
- Large fish
- Other jellyfish
ThreatsCoastal development, marine pollution, and climate change
HabitatsCoastal waters, rocky reefs, and seagrass beds
Life span4 to 6 months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyOlindiidae
- SpeciesOlindias formosus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Possesses a painful sting; avoid touching tentacles and observe from a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Sting delivers a painful neurotoxin that causes severe burning, skin rash, and localized swelling.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by the translucent, pinstriped bell and a crown of bright pink, purple, and green tentacles.
- What to do
- Never touch live or dead specimens; seek immediate medical attention if stung.
Responsible observation
- Night diving: Look for them rising from the seafloor into the water column after sunset.
- Keep distance: Maintain a respectful distance to avoid drifting into their trailing tentacles.
- Look for fluorescence: Use a blue light or UV torch to see their vibrant pink and green tips glow.
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative A. C. Tatarinov / CC0 · cc0
Hydrozoan Relative (c) Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.