Mediterranean jelly
Cotylorhiza tuberculata
- Not on exhibit
- Animal type
- Invertebrates
- Ecosystem
- Open ocean
- Relatives
- Crown jelly; Family: Cepheidae
- Diet
- Food produced by tiny plants called zooxanthellae; zooplankton
- Range
- Mediterranean Sea, coastal lagoons
- Size
- Diameter to 13 inches (33 cm)
Meet the Mediterranean jelly
The unusual looking Mediterranean jelly, also known as the "fried egg" jelly, has a smooth, elevated bell surrounded by a ring. It has numerous short, clublike appendages that expand and flatten at the ends, in addition to some longer ones. The clustered appendages contain mouth-arm openings that are colored deep purple.
Did you know?
This jelly only lives for about half a year, from summer to winter. Researchers think this short life span is the result of adapting to a highly seasonal environment where the water temperature varies greatly.
Conservation
Massive blooms of the Mediterranean jelly appeared in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon in the Mediterranean area after human activities, including agriculture, caused nutrients to seep into ground and eventually to the lagoon through coastal runoff.
Jelly populations naturally ebb and flow. Scientists are now wondering whether human impacts like overfishing, pollution and possibly climate changes might also affect jelly populations.
Is that a jelly or a plastic bag?
The Mediterranean jelly is very plentiful. However, plastic bags that end up in the ocean often look like jellies to animals that depend on these drifting creatures for food. Thousands of turtles and birds die each year after swallowing indigestible wads of plastic mistaken for jellies. You can help by eliminating single use plastics in your daily routine.
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