Hanging Stomach Jellyfish

Author: Julia Traill

Scientific name: Stomotoca atra

Size: 25mm wide bell

Distribution: The Bering Sea to Southern California.  Commonly seen in the summer in Puget Sound, British Columbia, and Alaska.

This hydromedusa is characterized by a long manubrium that hangs below the bell with regularly folded gonads attached to it that are a light gray to tan in colour.  It has 2 large tentacles on each side as well as 80 small marginal tentacles encircling the bell.

References:

Wrobel, D., & Mills, C. (2003). Pacific Coast pelagic invertebrates: A guide to the common gelatinous animals. Monterey, CA.