Colobonema sericeum

Description

General: Bell is slightly conical in shape, thin and without apical projection. Interior of bell contains an elongated, tubular stomach with eight radial canals. Bell carries 32 brilliantly blue tentacles, which the medusa drops when threatened. Brightly bioluminescent on the bell, but the blue tentacles that it sheds are probably not luminous.

Size: To 45 mm bell diameter and 35 mm bell height.

Reproduction: Holoplanktonic direct development.

Geographic Information

Ocean range (global): Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian ocean basins.

Habitat description: Midwater.

Published depth range: 200 - 700 m

Additional Information

Monterey Bay Aquarium: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/midwater-jelly

Diet: Small crustaceans.

Monterey Bay Aquarium: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/midwater-jelly

Key visual features: Distinctive blue glow. Gonads can be thick and white.

References

Encyclopedia of Life

Tree of Life

World Register of Marine Species

National Center for Biotechnology Information

Kramp, P.L. (1961). Synopsis of the medusae of the world. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 40: 1-469. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315400007347

Wrobel, D. and C.E. Mills (1998). Pacific coast pelagic invertebrates: a guide to the common gelatinous animals. Sea Challengers & Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA. 101 pp.

Widder, E.A., S.A. Bernstein, D.F. Bracher, J.F. Case, K.R. Reisenbichler, J.J. Torres, and B.H. Robison (1989). Bioluminescence in the Monterey Submarine Canyon: image analysis of video recordings from a midwater submersible. Marine Biology,100: 541-551.

Raskoff, K.A. (2001). The impact of El Niño events on populations of mesopelagic hydromedusae. Hydrobiologia, 451: 121-129.

Cairns, S.D., D.R. Calder, A. Brinckmann-Voss, C.B. Castro, D.G. Fautin, P.R. Pugh, C.E. Mills, W.C. Jaap, M.N. Arai, S.H.D. Haddock, and D.M. Opresko (2002). Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Cnidaria and Ctenophora - Second Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication #28, Bethesda, MD. 115 pp.

Vanhöffen, E. (1902). Die Craspedoten Medusen der deutschen Tiefsee Expedition 1898-1899. I. Trachymedusen. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee Expedition. 3: 55-86.