What species of jellyfish live in the Bay?
Three species of jellyfish can be found in the Bay: • The sea nettle, Chrysaora quinquecirrha, is the most well-known of the Bay jellyfish. Its smooth, milky white bell usually grows to about 4 inches in diameter. Up to 24 stinging tentacles emerge from marginal clefts inside of the bell. • The moon jellyfish, Aurelia aurita, is the largest jellyfish found in the Bay, growing to about 10 to 12 inches in diameter. It has a flat, white bell with four pink horseshoe-shaped gonads in the center. Hundreds of short tentacles hang like fringe from the edge of the bell. • The winter jellyfish or lion’s mane jellyfish, Cyanea capillata, has a broad, flattish bell with eight clusters of short tentacles. The bell is usually orange-brown and about the same size as the sea nettle’s. Where do jellyfish live? Jellyfish are found throughout the year in the middle and lower Bay and nearby rivers. Jellyfish can propel themselves forward by rhythmically expanding and contracting their bells. However, the
