Red-eye Medusa (Polyorchis penicillatus)

Other Names: Bell Medusa, Redeye Jelly Fish, and Penicillate Jellyfish.

Description: The Red-eye Medusa jellyfish is a small hydromedusa jelly that only grows to about 4 cm in length. They have a transparent appearance with white sports and yellow to purple colored internal organs. Their eyespots are highlighted with hints of red. The bell of the jelly is filled with over 100 tentacles that expand longer when drifting and can contract shorter into the bell when the jelly is swimming.

Habitat: This jellyfish species is found in waters from Alaska to Mexico, in bays or nearshore waters along the coast. They are found commonly along the bottom, around eelgrass.

Diet: During the day when the Redeye Medusa is closer to the seafloor it feeds on benthic zooplankton by stirring up the seafloor and collecting the food in its tentacles. Aside from zooplankton, it also feeds on worms and crustaceans.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• The red spots on the jelly are used to help the jellyfish orient itself by using light sensitivity allowing it to move up and down in the water column.

• The red coloring along the eyespots of the jellyfish are created using ambient light

• Unlike other jellyfish species, the Red-eye medusa is sadly on the decline as a result of ocean warming/acidification.

Reference: Biodiversity of the Central Coast