Sea Jellies Illuminated
Experience Sea Jellies like never before with an illuminated backdrop full of colour and life. Plus, learn all about these amazing creatures in the first of its kind operating research laboratory from Griffith University.
Fun Facts about Sea Jellies!
Blue Blubbers
Scientific name: Catostylus mosaicus Distribution: Common in the coastal waters of eastern and southern Australia.
Catostylus mosaicus is recognised for its robust, dome-shaped bell and thick, frilly oral arms that radiate from the bell’s underside. Typically displaying shades of blue, white, or brown, the species can form large blooms in estuaries and bays during warm seasons. It has a moderate sting and feeds primarily on plankton, using its mucus-coated oral arms to trap food. Its striking colouration and frequent coastal aggregations make it one of Australia’s most familiar jellyfish.
Crystal Jellies
Scientific name: Aldersladia magnificus Distribution: Tropical to Subtropical Australian Waters
The Crystal jelly is the largest hydrozoan sea jelly and produces a bright Green light (bioluminescence) around the edge of its bell. Bioluminescence is produced by a protein, called the 'Green Fluorescent Protein' or 'GFP'.
Moon Jellies
Scientific name: Aurelia coerulea Distribution: Native to the western Pacific but now found widely in temperate and subtropical coastal waters due to human-mediated spread.
Aurelia coerulea is a moon jelly distinguished by its translucent, saucer-shaped bell and the characteristic four horseshoe-shaped gonads visible through the bell. It typically reaches moderate sizes, with a soft, gelatinous texture and gently pulsating locomotion. This species tolerates a wide range of environmental conditions, enabling it to thrive in harbours, marinas, and other human-altered habitats. Its mild sting and opportunistic feeding on zooplankton make it an adaptable and sometimes invasive jellyfish in coastal ecosystems.
Blue Blubbers
Scientific name: Catostylus mosaicus Distribution: Common in the coastal waters of eastern and southern Australia.
Catostylus mosaicus is recognised for its robust, dome-shaped bell and thick, frilly oral arms that radiate from the bell’s underside. Typically displaying shades of blue, white, or brown, the species can form large blooms in estuaries and bays during warm seasons. It has a moderate sting and feeds primarily on plankton, using its mucus-coated oral arms to trap food. Its striking colouration and frequent coastal aggregations make it one of Australia’s most familiar jellyfish.
Crystal Jellies
Scientific name: Aldersladia magnificus Distribution: Tropical to Subtropical Australian Waters
The Crystal jelly is the largest hydrozoan sea jelly and produces a bright Green light (bioluminescence) around the edge of its bell. Bioluminescence is produced by a protein, called the 'Green Fluorescent Protein' or 'GFP'.
Moon Jellies
Scientific name: Aurelia coerulea Distribution: Native to the western Pacific but now found widely in temperate and subtropical coastal waters due to human-mediated spread.
Aurelia coerulea is a moon jelly distinguished by its translucent, saucer-shaped bell and the characteristic four horseshoe-shaped gonads visible through the bell. It typically reaches moderate sizes, with a soft, gelatinous texture and gently pulsating locomotion. This species tolerates a wide range of environmental conditions, enabling it to thrive in harbours, marinas, and other human-altered habitats. Its mild sting and opportunistic feeding on zooplankton make it an adaptable and sometimes invasive jellyfish in coastal ecosystems.
Learn More about Sea Jellies
Sea Jellies Educational Talk
Want to learn more about these cryptic and fascinating animals that are found all over the globe and don’t even have a brain? Visit Sea Jellies Illuminated, to hear all about the role Sea Jellies play in the ocean.
Want to learn more about these cryptic and fascinating animals that are found all over the globe and don’t even have a brain? Visit Sea Jellies Illuminated, to hear all about the role Sea Jellies play in the ocean.
Partners
