Lion’s Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata)

There are two types of cnidarians: the Hydrozoa and the Scyphozoa.

The largest scyphozoan in the North Pacific is the lion’s mane jelly. Large specimens can exceed 2 m (6 feet) in diameter with 9 m (27 feet) long tentacles. It is often abundant in coastal waters in late summer. The tentacles can give a nasty sting so it is best to leave this animal alone. In the water they are graceful creatures.

The lion’s mane jelly is a pelagic species is found from Mexico to Alaska. It eats plankton caught in the mesh of trailing tentacles which are drawn up to the mouth under the bell The Lion’s Mane Jellyfish grows up to 60 centimetres in diameter with two-metre long reddish tentacles. It is fairly common and well known to divers for its painful stings.