Atlantic sea nettle

Chrysaora quinquecirrha

The Atlantic sea nettle is a translucent jellyfish found in coastal Atlantic waters and estuaries. Its tentacles carry stinging cells that help it catch plankton and other small animals.

Not a fish · an aquatic neighbor

Water

Saltwater + Brackish

Coastal ocean waters, bays, estuaries, and tidal tributaries.

Temperature

Range not established

No dependable species-specific wild temperature range was located.

Size

Bell commonly about 10–15 cm (4–6 in) across

About the size of a small saucer.

Lifespan

Not established in the wild

Life expectancy varies with place, conditions, and what scientists have been able to observe.

01 · Signature adaptation

What does it do?

It pulses through the water but is also carried by currents. Numbers often increase during warm summer months in Chesapeake Bay waters.

Its superpowerIt can thrive in changing coastal salinity, including tidal bay environments.

02 · Home coordinates

Where does it live?

Western Atlantic coastal waters, including the Chesapeake Bay and nearby tidal tributaries.

Regions: Western Atlantic Ocean · Chesapeake Bay · Atlantic coast of North America

03 · The menu

What does it eat?

It captures drifting prey with its tentacles and oral arms.

Carnivore: zooplankton, comb jellies, small larvae.

04 · Remember this

Two wow facts

Bay predator

Sea nettles are important predators of comb jellies in Chesapeake Bay.

Sources [1]

Summer surge

They can become especially abundant in Chesapeake Bay during summer.

Sources [2]