General Description

Purple, mauve, red or dark brown body (bell) covered with warts (bearing stinging cells). Four long, frilly oral arms hang from the centre of the bell with 8 tentacles around the edges. Bell up to 10 cm across, tentacles up to 1 m long.

Biology

This jellyfish is bioluminescent, emitting green light when moved, for example by waves or by touch. Its name means "night light". A huge bloom of these jellies caused the death of over 100,000 salmon in sea cages in Ireland in 2007.

Habitat

Oceans, bays and harbours, near surface to depth of 200 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

Worldwide. Southern Australia.

Species Group

Jellyfishes and allies › Jellyfishes

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

Surface Midwater

Max Size

10 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Mild sting but may cause severe pain if stung by many individuals.

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Identify

• Jellyfish and allies

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Not listed