Higher classification Cyanea | Scientific name Cyanea lamarckii Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Cyanea, Lion's mane jellyfish, Moon jelly, Rhizostoma pulmo, Spotted jelly | ||
Blue jellyfish st abbs
Cyanea lamarckii, also known as the blue jellyfish or bluefire jellyfish, is a species of jellyfish in the family Cyaneidae. Populations in the western Pacific around Japan are sometimes distinguished as Cyanea nozakii or Cyanea capillata nozakii.
Contents
Distribution
This species is found in the pelagic zone off the west coast of Scotland, the North Sea and the Irish Sea, sometimes with the more common Lion's Mane Jellyfish, (Cyanea capillata).
Description
Cyanea lamarckii has a blue or yellow tone and grows to approximately 10 to 20 cm, but specimens can grow to 30 cm. In Scandinavian seas this species rarely grows larger than 15 cm.
This jellyfish has many stinging tentacles. The four mouth arms are large with many wrinkles and ripples.
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of Cyanea species is not fully agreed upon. Some zoologists have suggested that all species within the genus should be treated as one. However, Cyanea lamarckii exists with two other distinct taxa in at least the eastern North Atlantic.
The species specifier originates from the French naturalist Lamarck (Latin name form: Lamarckius).
Life cycle
The medusae bud and loosen from the mature polyps between January and March around the British Isles and southern North Sea. This occurs in a similar way to the life cycle of the moon jellyfish.