Lion's Mane Jellyfish

ID points

• Dense bunches of orange-red tentacles hang beneath the bell
• Bell divided into eight lobes with a deeply cut margin
• The tentacles can trail more than ten metres behind it

Basics

Family

Cyaneidae

Length

50–200 cm

Depth

0-60 m

Regions

Temperate & polar

Distribution

Cold waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic and the North Pacific

Habitat

Cold open and coastal waters

Diet

Zooplankton, small fish

Easily confused with

Loggerhead Sea TurtleHead unusually large and broad, out of proportion with the bodyFlatback Sea TurtleFlat shell with edges clearly turned upwardsGreen Sea TurtleShell scutes do not overlap, the edge is smooth

Fun fact

The Lion's Mane is the largest jellyfish in the world, with a bell reaching 2.3 metres across and tentacles trailing as far as 37 metres, longer than the body of a blue whale.