Phacellophora camschatica

The Fried Egg Jelly

Phylum Cnidaria
Class Schyphozoa
Suborder Eleutherocarpida
Family Ulmaridae
Genus Phacellophora
Species camschatica

Description: Commonly reaches 50 cm in diameter; bell is translucent to milky with a bright yellow center; bell margin has 16 large lobes that alternate with smaller lobes; each lobe has up to 25 tentacles.

Habitat: Pelagic, floats both near shore and in open waters.

Natural History: This jellyfish resembles a fried egg when seen from above. Amphipods and larvae of the graceful crab, Cancer gracilis, are commonly found on its tentacles, bell and oral arms. It preys upon Aurelia aurita and is usually found in or close to areas with large numbers of them.