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Moon Jelly

Aurelia genus

Moon Jelly

Aurelia genus
Other Common Names
Saucer jellies, common sea jellies
At the Aquarium
Jelly Gallery
Other Common Names
Saucer jellies, common sea jellies

At the Aquarium

Jelly Gallery

Appearance

Moon jellies have transparent outer bells that surround an inner bell with a blue to clear tint and covered in blue veins. Small tentacles hang from beneath the inner bell, as well as four oral arms which contain stinging cells.

Habitat

Moon jellies are found in the coastal waters at depths of 200 – 1,000m.

Diet

Sea nettles are carnivorous. Their stinging cells paralyze prey, such as other sea jellies, zooplankton, and copepods. They use their oral arms to shuttle the food to their digestive system.

Life History

The jelly releases eggs into the water which fertilize in the water column. Those eggs then hatch into ephyra and settle to the seafloor. The ephyra develop into small polyps. A polyp resembles a small sea anemone. Once the water conditions are just right the polyp strobilates. The polyp now resembles a stack of plates. Each “plate” in the stack is an identical clone of a jelly. Baby jellies, called ephyra, bud off of the polyp. Each ephyra that buds off a jelly then slowly grows into an adult jelly.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Moon jellies eat zooplankton and smaller jellies. When eaten by larger animals it helps move nutrition up the food chain.
Range
They can be found around the coasts of the Americas, Eurasia, most of Australia, near Greenland, and around Madagascar. They are typically not found in the Arctic ocean, and aside from Madagascar are largely absent around Africa.
On the Oregon Coast
Moon jellies can be found on the Oregon Coast off shore at depths of 200 – 1,000m.
Fun Facts
Moon jellies glow under black light. You can find this animal both in our jelly gallery and our main lobby’s café tank!

Citations & Other Resources

Back to All Animals

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About Oregon Coast Aquarium

Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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