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Crystal jelly

Aequorea victoria

On view
Open Sea
Animal type
Invertebrates
Ecosystem
Open ocean
Relatives
Other hydromedusae; Family: Aequoreidae
Diet
Copepods; however, it tends to favor comb jellies and other hydromedusae
Range
Southern California to Vancouver
Size
Up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) in diameter

Meet the crystal jelly

Graceful and nearly transparent, this jelly has long, delicate tentacles. It can expand its mouth when feeding to swallow jellies more than half its size. When disturbed, it gives off a green-blue glow because of more than 100 tiny, light-producing organs surrounding its outer bell. This jelly is harvested for its luminescent aequorin, used in neurological and biological experiments to detect calcium.

Watch in real time

Conservation

These beautiful animals play vital roles in ocean ecosystems as a food source for larger species like ocean sunfish. Unfortunately, many species often mistake plastic bags and other free floating trash for jellies.

Jellies can be very sensitive to water quality during certain points in their lifecycles. Changes in the health of jelly populations may be a tip-off to larger environmental problems. Recent jellyfish "blooms," for example, are being studied for their potential as sentinels of ocean change.

Cool facts

  • A crystal jelly can live more than two years on exhibit. Our aquarists are careful not to allow conditions to become too crowded, as this jelly has been known to cannibalize other jellies.
  • Scientists have created “green mice” by inserting the GFP gene from the crystal jelly into the mice. The animals then glow green when hit by blue light. The glowing protein is a widely used biological highlighter that helps scientists find and study genes more quickly.

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