Fried egg jellyfish

Cotylorhiza tuberculata · The fried egg jellyfish is a Mediterranean jellyfish with a smooth central dome, commonly found in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Adriatic Seas.

Also called Mediterranean jelly, Mediterranean jellyfish.

Fried egg jellyfish
Photo: Antonio Sontuoso, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fried egg jellyfish
Photo: Fredski2013, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fried egg jellyfish
Photo: Federico Stefanelli (nelli federico), CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCnidaria
ClassScyphozoa
OrderRhizostomeae
FamilyCepheidae
GenusCotylorhiza
SpeciesCotylorhiza tuberculata

Where it lives

Mediterranean Sea, including the Aegean and Adriatic seas.

Fun facts

  • Its sting has very little or no effect on most humans, though it can cause itching in more sensitive people.
  • Tiny algae live inside this jellyfish and use sunlight to make energy for it, while the jellyfish gives the algae shelter.
  • Young jellyfish can't begin turning into medusas at all without their algae partners, called zooxanthellae.
  • After reaching 3 cm across, a young medusa grows about 3–4 cm every week until it reaches its adult size.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).