Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body is a gelatinous dome, saucer-shaped, has 4 pair of branched tentacles (arms) with leafy, ribbon-like appendages, 10-15 oral arms on alternate branches; jelly swims upsidedown with tenticles above the dome; color bluish dome with white striped markings (usually), but can be white, black, greenish, bluish gray or bluish green; no tentacles on margin of dome; |
Similar Species |
There are 2 species of upsidedown jellyifshes in the Gulf of Mexico. Cassiopea frondosa is usually yellowish to light green in color. The appendages on its arms are small leaf-like or paddle-like shaped. |
Habitat |
Bays and mangroves, shallow sandy or muddy bottoms |
Maximum Size |
25 cm (10 in) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
Photos courtesy of Andres Garcia,Coastal Fisheries Division, Lower Laguna Madre Ecosystem, Natural Resource Specialist III |