The Pacific sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens), or West Coast sea nettle, is a common planktonicscyphozoan that lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Canada to Mexico.
Sea nettles have a distinctive golden-brown bell with a reddish tint. The bell can grow to be larger than one meter (three feet) in diameter in the wild, though most are less than 50 cm across. The long, spiraling, white oral arms and the 24 undulating maroon tentacles may trail behind as far as 15 feet (4.6 m). For humans, its sting is often irritating, but rarely dangerous.
Chrysaora fuscescens has proven to be very popular for display at public aquariums due to their bright colors and relatively easy maintenance. It is possible to establish polyps and culture Chrysaora in captivity. When provided appropriate aquarium conditions, the medusae do well under captive conditions.[1]
Johann Friedrich von Brandt described this species in 1835. The origin of the genus name Chrysaora lies in Greek mythology with Chrysaor, brother of Pegasus and son of Poseidon and Medusa. Translated, Chrysaor means "he who has a golden armament".[2] The species name fuscescens is Latin for "dark into light".
Distribution and habitat
Chrysaora fuscescens is commonly found along the coasts of California and Oregon, though some reside in the waters north to the Gulf of Alaska, west to the seas around Japan and south to the Baja Peninsula. The populations reach their peak during the late summer. In recent years, C. fuscescens has become overly abundant off the coast of Oregon, which is thought to be an indicator of climate change. However, others suspect that the population is increasing because of human influences to coastal regions.[1][3]
Feeding and predators
In common with other cnidaria, Chrysaora fuscescens are carnivorous animals. They catch their prey by means of cnidocyst (or nematocyst) -laden tentacles that hang down in the water. The toxins in their nematocysts are effective against both their prey and humans, though it is typically nonlethal to the latter. Because C. fuscescens cannot chase after their prey, they must eat as they drift. By spreading out their tentacles like a large net, the sea nettle is able to catch food as it passes by. When prey brushes up against the tentacles, thousands of nematocysts are released, launching barbed stingers which release a paralyzing toxin into the quarry. The oral arms begin digestion as they transport the prey into the sea nettle's mouth.[4]
C. fuscescens feeds on a wide variety of zooplankton, crustaceans, salps, pelagic snails, small fish as well as their eggs and larvae, and other jellyfish. Due to their growing numbers, they seem to be reducing fish populations and have become nuisances to the fisherman of Oregon by clogging up fishing nets. Their dense swarms have also become problematic for scientific trawls and water intake.
Despite having a potent sting, Chrysaora fuscescens is prey to many marine birds and large fish.[1]
Physiology
Chrysaora fuscescens swim using jet propulsion by squeezing their bell and pushing water behind them, allowing them to swim against currents, although most of the time they prefer to simply float. Sometimes they pick up hitchhikers, including small fish and crabs, which hide inside the sea nettle's bell and may feed on it.[5]
The Chrysaora fuscescens use light sensing organs called ocelli to migrate from the deeper waters of the ocean to the surface.[6]
Reproduction
Chrysaora fuscescens is capable of both sexual reproduction in the medusa stage and asexual reproduction in the polyp stage. The life cycle of C. fuscescens begins when females catch sperm released by the males to fertilize the eggs she has produced and is holding in her mouth. These fertilized eggs remain attached to her oral arms, and there they grow into flat bean-shaped planula. Once they grow into flower-shaped polyps, they are released into the ocean where they attach themselves to a solid surface and undergo asexual reproduction. The polyp makes identical copies of itself by means of budding, where the new polyp grows from its side. After the new polyp is fully formed, it too is released into the ocean and undergoes metamorphosis as it grows, developing a bell, arms, and tentacles until it is a fully formed medusa.[4]
References
^ abc. Jellieszone.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
^. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
^. Mbayaq.org. 2013-05-13. Archived from the original on 2008-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
^ ab. Sea.sheddaquarium.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
^. Montereybayaquarium.org. 2013-05-13. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
^. Aqua.org. 2013-08-29. Archived from the original on 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
External links
Media related to Chrysaora fuscescens at Wikimedia Commons
April 27, 2023
chrysaora, fuscescens, other, uses, pacific, nettle, chrysaora, melanaster, pacific, nettle, west, coast, nettle, common, planktonic, scyphozoan, that, lives, eastern, pacific, ocean, from, canada, mexico, pacific, nettle, scientific, classificationkingdom, an. For other uses of Pacific sea nettle see Chrysaora melanaster The Pacific sea nettle Chrysaora fuscescens or West Coast sea nettle is a common planktonic scyphozoan that lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Canada to Mexico Chrysaora fuscescensThe Pacific sea nettle Chrysaora fuscescens Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum CnidariaClass ScyphozoaOrder SemaeostomeaeFamily PelagiidaeGenus ChrysaoraSpecies C fuscescensBinomial nameChrysaora fuscescensBrandt 1835Sea nettles have a distinctive golden brown bell with a reddish tint The bell can grow to be larger than one meter three feet in diameter in the wild though most are less than 50 cm across The long spiraling white oral arms and the 24 undulating maroon tentacles may trail behind as far as 15 feet 4 6 m For humans its sting is often irritating but rarely dangerous Chrysaora fuscescens has proven to be very popular for display at public aquariums due to their bright colors and relatively easy maintenance It is possible to establish polyps and culture Chrysaora in captivity When provided appropriate aquarium conditions the medusae do well under captive conditions 1 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Feeding and predators 4 Physiology 5 Reproduction 6 References 7 External linksTaxonomy EditJohann Friedrich von Brandt described this species in 1835 The origin of the genus name Chrysaora lies in Greek mythology with Chrysaor brother of Pegasus and son of Poseidon and Medusa Translated Chrysaor means he who has a golden armament 2 The species name fuscescens is Latin for dark into light Distribution and habitat EditChrysaora fuscescens is commonly found along the coasts of California and Oregon though some reside in the waters north to the Gulf of Alaska west to the seas around Japan and south to the Baja Peninsula The populations reach their peak during the late summer In recent years C fuscescens has become overly abundant off the coast of Oregon which is thought to be an indicator of climate change However others suspect that the population is increasing because of human influences to coastal regions 1 3 Feeding and predators Edit In common with other cnidaria Chrysaora fuscescens are carnivorous animals They catch their prey by means of cnidocyst or nematocyst laden tentacles that hang down in the water The toxins in their nematocysts are effective against both their prey and humans though it is typically nonlethal to the latter Because C fuscescens cannot chase after their prey they must eat as they drift By spreading out their tentacles like a large net the sea nettle is able to catch food as it passes by When prey brushes up against the tentacles thousands of nematocysts are released launching barbed stingers which release a paralyzing toxin into the quarry The oral arms begin digestion as they transport the prey into the sea nettle s mouth 4 C fuscescens feeds on a wide variety of zooplankton crustaceans salps pelagic snails small fish as well as their eggs and larvae and other jellyfish Due to their growing numbers they seem to be reducing fish populations and have become nuisances to the fisherman of Oregon by clogging up fishing nets Their dense swarms have also become problematic for scientific trawls and water intake Despite having a potent sting Chrysaora fuscescens is prey to many marine birds and large fish 1 Physiology Edit Chrysaora fuscescens swim using jet propulsion by squeezing their bell and pushing water behind them allowing them to swim against currents although most of the time they prefer to simply float Sometimes they pick up hitchhikers including small fish and crabs which hide inside the sea nettle s bell and may feed on it 5 The Chrysaora fuscescens use light sensing organs called ocelli to migrate from the deeper waters of the ocean to the surface 6 Reproduction Edit Chrysaora fuscescens is capable of both sexual reproduction in the medusa stage and asexual reproduction in the polyp stage The life cycle of C fuscescens begins when females catch sperm released by the males to fertilize the eggs she has produced and is holding in her mouth These fertilized eggs remain attached to her oral arms and there they grow into flat bean shaped planula Once they grow into flower shaped polyps they are released into the ocean where they attach themselves to a solid surface and undergo asexual reproduction The polyp makes identical copies of itself by means of budding where the new polyp grows from its side After the new polyp is fully formed it too is released into the ocean and undergoes metamorphosis as it grows developing a bell arms and tentacles until it is a fully formed medusa 4 References Edit a b c Chrysaora fuscescens Jellieszone com Archived from the original on 2013 10 01 Retrieved 2013 10 08 Animal Guide Kids Corner the Georgia Aquarium Archived from the original on 2008 10 12 Retrieved 2011 07 27 Wolf eel Reefs amp Pilings Fishes Anarrhichthys ocellatus Mbayaq org 2013 05 13 Archived from the original on 2008 10 04 Retrieved 2013 10 08 a b Shedd Aquarium Sea sheddaquarium org Archived from the original on 2012 03 06 Retrieved 2013 10 08 Sea nettle Open Waters Invertebrates Chrysaora fuscescens Montereybayaquarium org 2013 05 13 Archived from the original on 2011 07 18 Retrieved 2013 10 08 National Aquarium Pacific Sea Nettle Aqua org 2013 08 29 Archived from the original on 2013 08 18 Retrieved 2013 10 08 External links Edit Media related to Chrysaora fuscescens at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chrysaora fuscescens amp oldid 1138470456, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
