Moon Jelly (Aurelia labiata)

Description: Moon jellies are one of the most common types of jellyfish found washing upon Cannon Beach’s shore. This jelly is recognizable by the four horseshoe-shaped patterns on the center of its bell; these shapes are the jelly’s gonads, or reproductive organs. Moon jellies are a translucent white color but can also sometimes appear in light shades of pink, purple, or yellow. On average, this species of moon jelly measures 10-40 centimeters across its bell. This species of moon jelly—Aurelia labiata—is similar to another species called Aurelia aurita found in the Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea. 

Habitat: On the Pacific Coast of North America, they are found from Alaska down to California. They are also found on North America’s East Coast as well as parts of Europe and coastal Japan.

Diet: Moon jellies vary in color depending on their diet: When they eat brine shrimp, moon jellies appear more yellow, and when they eat crustaceans they appear more pink or purple.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• Moon jellies have short tentacles underneath their bell, but unlike other jelly species, this one does not sting. However, a rash can occur if skin is exposed to enough tentacles.

• Marine creatures like sea turtles love eating jellies, and jellies make up a big part of their diet. Unfortunately for sea turtles, plastic bags in the ocean closely resemble jellies, so sea turtles will mistakenly eat plastic bags and end up choking. This is one reason why it’s important to reduce plastic pollution in oceans!

Reference: Central Coast Biodiversity