Name

Pelagia

mauve stinger

Framing

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Scyphozoa

Order: Semeostomida

Genus: Pelagia

Habitat

Marine, floating pelagic and swimmer

Feeding

Feeds on plankton (zooplankton and ichthyoplankton).

Distribution

North Atlantic and Western Mediterranean

Conservation status

Abundant

Additional information

Medusa with an umbrella about 10 cm in diameter, with nematocysts on its surface, 16 marginal lobes, 8 long marginal tentacles and 8 blades without ocelli. Translucent colour, with purple shading and stippling. May form swarms that reach the shoreline, preventing bathing due to the extremely stinging nature of their cnidocysts.