Animal Species:White-spotted Jellyfish

This large and spectacular jellyfish is common during the summer months in New South Wales coastal waters and estuaries, including Sydney Harbour.

White-spotted Jellyfish swimming

White-spotted Jellyfish swimming
Jiri Lochman/Lochman Transparencies © Jiri Lochman/Lochman Transparencies

Identification

The White-spotted Jellyfish is easily recognised by the large, semi-transparent, rounded bell covered in regularly spaced, white dots. The trailing tentacles also end in whitened spots.

Size range

50 cm

Distribution

White-spotted Jellyfish are found throughout Australia.

Habitat

White-spotted Jellyfish live in oceans and coastal waters.

Economic/social impacts

The White-spotted Jellyfish is causing a problem overseas, particularly in the Caribbean region. It may have hitched a ride in ships' ballast tanks, travelling from Australia and the Pacific region to the Caribbean. Here, it found an ideal place to breed, free of their natural predators (various Pacific-region snails).

Danger to humans and first aid

Mild or not noticeable.

Classification

Species:
punctata
Genus:
Phyllorhiza
Order:
Rhizostomeae
Class:
Scyphozoa
Phylum:
Cnidaria
Kingdom:
Animalia

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Tags jellies, jellyfish, scyphozoans, invertebrates, identification, wildlife of sydney,