Pacific Sea Nettle

The Pacific Sea Nettle belongs to the family Pelagiidae. These “true jellies” can be found in the open ocean of the Pacific (more commonly found in California and Oregon). Sea nettles are what we call Scyphozoans. Scyphozoa is a unique marine class of Cnidaria.

Sea Nettles go through various developmental stages to become the adult (medusa) you see before you (larva, to poly and then medusa). The adult medusa has a golden-brown dome-shaped body that can reach up to 3 ft in diameter. Below the bell they have these thin tentacles (range between 25-40 tentacles) that flow downward and 4 ruffled oral arms that can hang as long as 12 ft. Be careful of the tentacles, they do pack a powerful sting.

Unfortunately, in some areas, the Sea Nettle population is too large. Too many Sea Nettles in one area can cause a clog. These clogs can block water intake and commercial fishermen.

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A group of jellies is called a smack.