Chrysaora melanaster

Northern sea nettle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Cnidaria
Class:Scyphozoa
Order:Semaeostomeae
Family:Pelagiidae
Genus:Chrysaora
Species: C. melanaster
Binomial name
Chrysaora melanaster
(Brandt, 1835)
Synonyms
  • Chrysaora depressa (Kishinouye 1902)

Chrysaora melanaster, commonly known as the northern sea nettle or brown jellyfish, is a species of jellyfish native to the northern Pacific Ocean and adjacent parts of the Arctic Ocean. It is sometimes referred to as a Pacific sea nettle, but this name is also used for C. fuscescens; the name Japanese sea nettle was also used for this species, but that name now exclusively refers to C. pacifica.[1][2]

Description

Chrysaora melanaster

The medusa of the northern sea nettle can reach 60 centimeters in length with tentacles growing up to three meters.[3][4] The number of tentacles is up to 24 (8 per octant).[1] It dwells at depths of up to 100 meters, where it feeds on copepods, larvaceans, small fish, large zooplankton, and other jellies.[4] The sting is mild, although can cause serious skin irritation and burning.[5] The life span of northern sea nettles found in Tokyo Bay is one year, however the lifespan is unknown in the Arctic Ocean.[6]

Habitat

The northern sea nettle is found in open water of temperate northern Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean and especially the Bering Sea.[6]

Ecology

Pollock can be both the food of the northern sea nettle and also the competitor for potentially limited sources of prey.[7]

Status

The total biomass of the northern sea nettle has increased in recent years as climate change has caused a more stable and productive surface layer.[7] This increased stability of the water column would also have contributed to the warmer surface temperatures found in late summer in the 1990s, leading to increased growth and survival of the northern sea nettle.

References

  1. 1 2 Morandini AC, Marquess AC (2011) Revision of the genus Chrysaora Péron & Lesueur, 1810 (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa). Zootaxa 2464: 1–97
  2. ↑ "Fact Sheet: Japanese Sea Nettle" (PDF). Shedd Aquarium. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  3. ↑ CNET news, Chrysaora melanaster, from "Census of Marine Life reveals hidden life in oceans" article (October 5, 2010).
  4. 1 2 "Sea Nettle: Chrysaora melanaster". Census of Marine Life Arctic Ocean Diversity project. August 20, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Jellies Invasion: Explore Online". National Aquarium in Baltimore. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Sea Nettle: Chrysaora melanaster Brandt, 1838". Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  7. 1 2 R.D, Brodeur (2002). "Increases in jellyfish biomass in the Bering Sea: Implications for the ecosystem". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 233: 89–103. doi:10.3354/meps233089.


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