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Sea Nettle

Swimming Just Off Pier
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This jellyfish was seen swimming just off Pier 32 near the foot of Bryant Street. Its brown color suggested it might be a Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens).

Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) external link   •  Also the West Coast Sea Nettle.   •  Piers 32/34, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 1 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 14:27:28 Thursday 15 July 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #SF_8503TNT
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Distinctive Bell
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Sea Nettles are known by their distinctive light-to-dark brown bells.

Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) external link   •  Also the West Coast Sea Nettle.   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted 22 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:03:34 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2247
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Irritating Tentacles
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Its 24 undulating maroon tentacles may trail behind as far as 12 to 15 feet (3.6 to 4.6m). For humans, the sting of those tentacles is often irritating, but rarely dangerous.

Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) external link   •  Also the West Coast Sea Nettle.   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted 22 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:03:36 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2248
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Big Bell
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In the wild, the bell can grow to as big as three feet (one meter) across.

Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) external link   •  Also the West Coast Sea Nettle.   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted 22 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:03:37 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2249
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Oral Arms
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The stinging tentacles paralyze prey and then the oral arms in the center begin digestion as they transport the prey into the sea nettle's mouth.

Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) external link   •  Also the West Coast Sea Nettle.   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted 22 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:03:39 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2250
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Can Swim
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The Pacific Sea Nettle can swim by squeezing its bell and forcing water for movement, but most of the time it prefers to float passively.

Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) external link   •  Also the West Coast Sea Nettle.   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted 22 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:03:44 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2253
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Under The Crescent Moon
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The Pacific Sea Nettle with a reflection of a light created the illusion of a crescent moon at night.

Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) external link   •  Also the West Coast Sea Nettle.   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted 22 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:03:46 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2254
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Easy To Raise
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Because they are relatively easy to raise in captivity, they have become popular for exhibits in aquariums.

Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) external link   •  Also the West Coast Sea Nettle.   •  Monterey Bay Aquarium external link   •  886 Cannery Row, Monterey, California   •  (Photo posted 22 November 2011)   •  (Photo taken 16:03:58 Wednesday 20 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCY_2258
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