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Spotted Jelly

A large jellyfish with a rounded bell shape that is clear or tinted brown or yellow. The bell has many obvious small white crystalline spots close to the surface that are evenly distributed.

The tentacles are located in the centre of the bell, with 8 individual arms visible. Two sets of tentacles are visible: one is short, fleshy (cauliflower-like) and the other is longer, clear to white (rope-like) and extend beyond the shorter fleshy tentacles. The longer tentacles also have white spots on their ends.

Size

Average adult bell 35 cm wide, up to 60 cm diameter, and 10 kg in weight.

Field Guide

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  • Species Category: Marine
  • Species origin: Native
  • Conservation status: Common

  • What to Observe

    Search area for 30 minutes and record the following:

    • Abundant: found easily with little searching

    • Frequent: found with minimal searching

    • Rare: only 1 or 2 individuals found with intensive searching

    • Not found: not present during search

  • When and Where

    When To Look

    • Throughout the year

    Where To Look

    • Throughout Australia
    • Coastal and estuarine habitats.
    • Washed up on beaches after storm events

  • What Else?

    Similar Species

    The white spots on the bell distinguish this jelly from all others. Though Moon Jelly (Aurelia aurita) or Jelly Blubber (Catostylus mosaicus) are similar in size and can also be white to brown in colour.
  • Trails: Bellarine Peninsula - Barwon Coast & Ocean Grove Nature Reserve VIC, Cape Conran VIC, Marramarra NP NSW, Randwick Coastal Walkway NSW, Ricketts Point VIC, University of Western Australia WA
  • Species Region: Australia