About Chrysaora melanaster Brandt, 1835
This species, commonly called the northern sea nettle, has a medusa form that can reach 60 cm (2 ft) in diameter. Its tentacles can grow up to 3 m (10 ft) long, and it can have up to 24 total tentacles, with three tentacles per octant. It lives at depths of up to 100 meters. Its diet includes copepods, larvaceans, small fish, large zooplankton, and other jellies. Its sting is considered mild, but it can still cause serious skin irritation and burning. The lifespan of this species is currently unknown. The northern sea nettle inhabits open water in the temperate northern Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and is especially common in the Bering Sea. In its ecosystem, pollock act both as prey for the northern sea nettle and as competitors for potentially limited prey resources.
