Haeckel's Jelly

Description:

A washed up jellyfish which was about a foot in diameter. A cross shape was seen inside the jelly and regular brown patches along the margin of the bell. The underside of the jelly (pic 2) showed frilled dark-margined oral arms.

Habitat:

Spotted among rock pools in a tidal zone (Port Phillip Bay) where there were many jellyfish washed-up and dried on the rocks.

Notes:

I acknowledge that I am in the company of marine biologists and other enthusiasts who post fantastic spottings but this is just to document the spotting of this specimen at this place and time. This jellyfish would have been magnificent with a long tail (not seen here) freely swimming in the ocean. It's bell is said to have a fine reticulated pattern ( also not seen here). It has no tentacles. Haeckel's jellyfish is native to temperate and sub-tropical Australian waters. Phylum: Cnidaria Class; Scyphozoa