Aurelia aurita (Linnaeus, 1758)
Moon jelly
Aurelia aurita
photo by Harvey-Clark, Chris

Family:  Ulmaridae (), subfamily: Aureliinae
Max. size:  50 cm WD (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 1250 m
Distribution:  Circumglobal. This species is widespread in all the seas of the sphere, from the equator to the poles. Subtropical to polar.
Diagnosis:  Maximum diameter: 50 cm (Ref. 358); Height, from 10 to 12.5 cm; diameter, being able to reach 40 to 50 cm (Ref. 363). Plane sunshade; comprising very many tentacles courts with the periphery. One counts 4 oral arms; and 4 sexual organs; of annular form or in the horseshoe shape very many radiate channels. Coloring: generally translucent, with slightly pink reflections, blue or purple; the sexual organs are more clearly colored red or pink (Ref. 358).
Biology:  This species is being eaten by predators because of its high fatty acid content (Ref. 122155). Neritic, potentially pathogenic (Ref. 116114). Free living near the water's surface in pelagic zones (Ref. 2997), close to coasts (Ref. 358), and offshore (Ref. 813); also found in brackish waters (Ref. 2993), coastal embayments, fjords and estuaries (Ref. 3289). Their cnidocytes cannot transpierce the human skin. Suspension feeder (Ref. 3269) on tintinnids, rotifers, cladocerans and larvae of copepods (harpacticoid), barnacles (nauplii; Ref. 3053) and on fish larvae (Ref. 7715). Several cases reported sea anemones to feed on this species; fungiid coral is also an occasional feeder. Provides vital fatty acids for fishes and crustacean predators. Nutritional value of this species from macronutrients and key fatty acids appears to be important over only meeting a predator's energy demands (Ref. 122155).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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