Aequorea victorea

Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Order Hydroida
Suborder Leptomedusae
Family Aequoridae
Genus Aequorrea
Species victorea

Description: Usually about 7 cm in diameter; thick and gelatinous saucer-shaped bell; has sixty narrow radial canals with gonads underneath; gonads are bluish in males, rose-colored in females; marginal tentacles are long and numerous; the mouth has ruffled lips; feeding tube is short and wide.

Habitat: Pelagic, floats near shore.

Natural History: The largest hydromedusae which feeds on other jellyfish including members of its own species. They are luminescent during the night time when disturbed. This jellyfish has been harvested commerically in Puget Sound for the bio-tech industry.