Atlantic Sea Gooseberry (Pleurobrachia pileus)

Also known as Cats Eyes, Comb Jellyfish, Jellyfish, Sea Gooseberry, Sea Gooseberry Comb Jelly, Sea Grape, Sea Jellies, Sea Walnut

Description

Also known as Cats Eyes, Comb Jellyfish, Jellyfish, Sea Gooseberry, Sea Gooseberry Comb Jelly, Sea Grape, Sea Jellies, Sea Walnut.

Found singly, or in swarms, swimming in open waters, sometimes in rock pools, or washed up on beaches.
They feed on fish eggs, fish larvae, and zooplankton.
Length - 2.5cm
Depth - 0-170m
Widespread Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, North Sea

The Comb Jelly is a hermaphrodite, found, in almost every ocean of the world. Their body is made up of "comb rows" eight rows of ciliary (hair) plates, used for propulsion, these generate the beautiful rainbow colours!
Despite its delicate and perhaps innocent appearance, the sea gooseberry is a voracious predator. Two retractable tentacles, sometimes reaching a length of 20 times the body diameter, are used to catch any prey that floats by! Unlike a jellyfish, comb jellies have no poison to paralyze their prey.
They in turn, are preyed on by crustaceans.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleurobrachia_pileus

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