Pelagia noctiluca
6cm
0-1600m
748 sites
Pelagiidae
Imagine drifting through the open ocean, bathed in sunlight, and encountering a pulsating jewel – the Mauve Stinger (Pelagia noctiluca). This captivating jellyfish, typically around 6cm but sometimes reaching 9cm, is a common sight for snorkelers and divers in warmer waters. While they aren't usually found hanging around reefs (they prefer open water), blooms of these jellies can occur, turning the sea into a shimmering, ethereal landscape. These blooms can be quite impressive, and while their sting is generally mild, it's best to admire them from a respectful distance! They are carnivores, feeding on small fish and plankton. Given their wide depth range, from the surface down to 1600m, you might encounter them at almost any depth. Keep an eye out for them in the North Atlantic, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, and Southern Australia.
The Mauve Stinger is easily identified by its vibrant, translucent, mauve or pink bell. Unlike many jellyfish, it lacks a polyp stage in its life cycle, spending its entire life as a medusa. It has a relatively simple structure with no obvious tentacles around the bell margin, instead relying on oral arms to capture prey. The bell's surface may appear slightly textured or bumpy. Its colouration makes it stand out against the blue backdrop of the open ocean.
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