Citizen’s Science with JellyWatch
This PPT is designed as a Teacher Tutorial and as an
Answer Key to the various species of Hydrozoa that
might be used with this activity. Each slide provides
an image and information currently available for 26
species of Hydrozoa. Sources for the images and
information are also provided in the Notes section
of each slide.
Proterozoic Eon - Vendian Era (560 MYA)
Ediacara fauna
Four Classes of Hydrozoans
Hydrozoa
Cubozoa
Chondrophorina
Siphonophorae
Carybdeids
Chirodropids
Scyphozoa
True jellies
Staurozoa
Stalked jellies
Porpita porpita
(Blue button)
Habitat
bay, beach,
Mediterranean sea biome, more
Water depth
4,919 m max
Water temperature
1.46 degrees C min
28.7 degrees C max
Geographic distribution European waters
Gulf of Mexico
Mediterranean Sea
more
Latitude -20.4 degrees min, 43.7 degrees
max
Longitude
-158 degrees min, 132.39
degrees max
Velella velella
(By-the-wind sailor)
Habitat
bay, beach, island, more
Water depth 2,977 m max Water
Temperature 2.54 degrees Celsius min
24.99 degrees Celsius
Geographic distribution - Azores, Belgian
Coast, more
Latitude -38.6 degrees min, 57.28 degrees max
Peter J. Bryant
Longitude -131 degrees mi
Physalia physalis
(Portugese man-of-war)
Habitat
bar, bay, beach, more
Water depth 4,976 m max
Water temp. -1.04 degrees Celsius min
27.89 degrees Celsius max
Geographic distribution Atlantic, Atlantic
Europe, Australian part of the
Bass Strait, more
Latitude
-67.2 degrees min
54.03 degrees max
Longitude
-158 degrees min
147.18 degrees max
Phialella zappai (NCN)
Geographic distribution East North
Pacific
Liriope tetraphylla (NCN)
Habitat
bay, Mediterranean sea
Biome
Tropical
Water depth 2,725 m max
Water temp. 0.33 degrees C min,
28.61 degrees C max
Geographic distribution
Latitude
Longitude
Azores Exclusive
Economic Zone
European waters
(ERMS scope)
Gulf of Mexico
more
-29.1 degrees min,
50.77 degrees max
-129 degrees min
144.27 degrees max
Aglantha digitale
(Pink helmet)
Habitat: back-arc basin, bay
Water depth: 4938m
Geographic distribution: Arctic
Ocean, Barents Sea
Latitude: -22.3 degrees min
89.4 degrees max
Longitude: -180 degrees min
Aequorea victoria (Water jellyfish)
Habitat
coast, Mediterranean sea
Biome
pelagic zone, more
Water depth
6 m max
Water temp.
10.15 degrees C max
9.97 degrees C min
Geographic distribution Canadian Exclusive
Economic Zone [Pacific
part]
East North Pacific
FAO fishing area 67, more
Latitude
52.15 degrees min
53.2 degrees max
Longitude
-131 degrees max
-132 degrees min
Carukia barnesi (Irukandji)
Range depth: near surface to 10-20 m.
Habitat Regions: saltwater or marine
Aquatic Biomes: reef; coastal
Geographic distribution: Indo-Pacific
Carybdea sivickisi
(Box jelly or Marine stinger)
Habitat: ocean, sea, beach, subtropical, more
Geographic distribution:
Central IndoPacific, New Zealand Exclusive Economic
Zone
Latitude: 33.69 degrees max, 33.69 degrees
min
Longitude: 135.34 degrees min, 135.34
degrees max
Alvaro Migotto
Chironex fleckeri
(Sea wasp or Box Jellyfish)
Habitat: bay, fresh water, mangrove biome,
more
Water depth: 25 m min; 40 m max
Water temp.: 28.19 degrees C max, 28.19
degrees C min
Geographic distribution: Australia
Latitude:
-12.5 degrees max, -17.8
degrees min
Longitude:
128.78 degrees min, 146.1
degrees max
Chiropsalmus quadrumanus
(Four-handed box jellyfish)
Habitat Regions: marine
Geographic distribution: Gulf of Mexico, North
and West Atlantic (Carolinian, Cape Hatteras
through Florida)
Aurelia aurita (Moon jellyfish)
Habitat Regions: saltwater or marine
Aquatic Biomes: reef; lakes & ponds,
coastal; warm tropical waters
Geographic distribution: Indian,
Atlantic, Pacific Oceans
Aurelia labiata (Moon jellyfish)
Depth Range: 0 – 1000m
Habitat Regions: Temperate - bays,
harbors
Aquatic Biomes: coastal and pelagic
Geographic distribution: Pacific Ocean,
San Diego to Alaska
Cassiopea xamachana
(Upside-down jellyfish)
Range depth: Shallow Areas (low) m
Biogeographic Regions: Atlantic Ocean
(native), Pacific ocean & Mediterranean
Sea (introduced)
Habitat Regions: tropical, saltwater or
marine
Aquatic Biomes: Benthic, reef
Chrysaora fuscescens (Sea nettle)
Range depth: Epipelagic
Biogeographic Regions: Japan, Siberia,
Alaska to Mexico, common in central
California & Oregon
Habitat Regions: pelagic on open coast
Aquatic Biomes: Benthic, reef
Dave Cowles
Chrysaora hysoscella
(Compass jellyfish)
Range depth: 30 to 2 meters
Geographic Regions: Celtic, Irish, North
Seas, Mediterranean Sea, South Africa
Habitat Regions: Temperate, saltwater,
marine
Aquatic Biomes: Pelagic, coastal
Latitude: 50.0 degrees to 52 degrees
North
Chrysaora quinquecirrha
(Sea nettle)
Geographic Regions: Indian & Atlantic
(native), Pacific (introduced)
Habitat Regions: Temperate, Tropical,
saltwater, marine, estuarine, intertidal
Aquatic Biomes: Coastal, brackish water
Craspedacusta sowerbyi
(Freshwater jellyfish)
Geographic Region: Nearctic
Habitat Regions: Temperate, tropical,
freshwater
Aquatic Biomes: Lakes and ponds,
rivers and streams
Cyanea arctica or capillata
(Lion’s mane)
Geographic Regions: Atlantic & Pacific
(native)
Habitat Regions: Cooler regions of
Atlantic, Pacific, North Sea, and Baltic Sea
Aquatic Biomes: Pelagic & Benthic
Haliclystus auricula
(Kaleidoscope jellyfish)
Biogeographic Regions: Northern Pacific
Ocean
Habitat Regions: Eelgrass beds
Aquatic Biomes: Cool coastal, estuarine
Linuche unguiculata
(Thimble jellyfish)
Range depth: 0 – 5000m
Biogeographic Regions: Western,
Tropical Atlantic, West Indies & Bahamas
Habitat Regions: Tropical, saltwater,
marine
Aquatic Biomes: Pelagic
Mastigias papua (Golden medusa)
Range depth: 1m
Biogeographic Regions: Indian Ocean,
China Sea to Japan, Pacific Ocean
Habitat Regions: Temperate, saltwater,
marine
Aquatic Biomes: Pelagic, coastal
M. N Dawson
Pelagia noctiluca
(Purple-striped jellyfish)
Range depth: 1m
Biogeographic Regions: Mediterranean
and Atlantic Ocean
Habitat Regions: Temperate, pelagic,
coastal, benthic
Aquatic Biomes: Pelagic, coastal
Periphylla periphylla
(Crown or Helmet jellyfish)
Range depth: 0 – 1000m
Biogeographic Regions: All but the Arctic
Habitat Regions: Temperate, Tropical,
Polar, saltwater, marine
Aquatic Biomes: Pelagic
Phyllorhiza punctata
(White-spotted jellyfish)
Biogeographic Regions: Australia, Hawaii,
Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico (introduced)
Habitat Regions: Tropical, saltwater,
estuarine, harbors, bays
Stomolophus meleagris
(Cannonball jellyfish)
Biogeographic Regions: Atlantic & Pacific
Ocean, Sea of Japan, South China Sea
Habitat Regions: Tropical, saltwater,
marine
Aquatic Biomes: Coastal, estuarine
Jo O'Keefe
Thalassocalyce inconstans
(Ctenophore)
Biogeographic Regions: Gulf of Mexico,
West North Atlantic
Habitat Regions: Bay, Marine
Latitude: 22.28 degrees min; 27.47
degrees max
Longitude: -82.7 degrees max
-97.8 degrees min
Jellyfish Life Cycle
This infographic provides one option
for students to use to communicate
their findings during their Jellyfish
Investigation.
This sample rubric can be
used in the assessment of
this infographic