Physical Description
The Egg Yolk Jelly, Phacellophora camtschatica, is a large medusa with a diameter of up to 60 cm. It has a clear to yellowish bell with central yellow gonads. It possesses 16 clusters of tentacles and 16 sensory rhopalia around the margin of the bell. Small individuals may have a milky white bell. The oral arms are short and highly folded.
Habitat and Geographical Range
Egg Yolk Jellies do not usually form large aggregations and are primarily pelagic, often found offshore from kelp forests along the eastern Pacific coast. They inhabit open waters but may venture closer to shore under certain conditions.
What They Eat and How They Breed
Egg Yolk Jellies primarily feed on plankton, small fish, and other small invertebrates that they capture using their tentacles. They reproduce sexually, releasing eggs and sperm into the water column where fertilization occurs, leading to the development of free-swimming larvae.
Physical Threat to Humans
Egg Yolk Jellies possess stinging cells in their tentacles that can cause a mild sting to humans upon contact. While not usually severe, the sting may cause discomfort and irritation, particularly to sensitive individuals.
