| Tropical Diver The Coral Kingdom |
Georgia Aquarium is home to more than 150 new Pacific sea nettles! Come see the brand new, beautiful jellies on display now in the Tropical Diver Gallery, presented by Air Tran Airways. Click here to watch the video of the jellies' journey to Georgia Aquarium!
Aquarium biologists ventured into 48°
Pacific sea nettles are overly abundant off the coast of
The Pacific sea nettle is common along the coast of California and Oregon and occurs, but is less common, in waters north to the Gulf of Alaska, west to the seas around Japan and south to the Baja Peninsula. The populations of this species are largest during fall and winter. This sea nettle is generally larger than similar species found in the Atlantic. In the wild, it can grow to a diameter of three feet and its thick oral arms can extend 12 feet below the animal. The thin tentacles that hang down from around the edge of its body can inflict a painful sting.
Come visit the Tropical Diver gallery and watch these graceful jellies as they glide through their floor to ceiling display!
- The Pacific sea nettle feeds on small crustaceans, small fish and fish eggs and larvae. It will also eat other jellies.
- In recent years, these jellies have become so abundant that they appear to be reducing adult fish populations by consuming so many fish eggs and larvae.
- The concentrations of jellies can become large enough to clog fishing nets and block industrial water intakes.
- As in other true jellies, the sea nettle exhibits a life cycle that includes both sexual and asexual stages.
- The genus name Chrysaora has its origins in Greek mythology.
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