Crowned Jellyfish

Cephea cephea, commonly referred to as the crown jellyfish or cauliflower jellyfish, belongs to the family Cepheidae. This species is endemic to the tropical marine environments of the western Indo-Pacific, extending to Northern 🇦🇺 Australian waters. Initially described by Peter Forsskål in 1775 under the nomenclature Medusa cephea, this species predominantly occupies the pelagic zones of tropical and subtropical waters, with a significant presence in the Indo-West Pacific, the eastern Atlantic, and the 🌊 Red Sea. Despite being among the most venomous jellyfish species, Cephea cephea poses no threat to humans; instead, it is regarded as a culinary delicacy and is utilized for medicinal applications in 🇨🇳 China and 🇯🇵 Japan. The jellyfish can reach a diameter of up to 60 centimeters.

Characterized by a purplish-blue hue, Cephea cephea exhibits wart-like projections and a bell-shaped morphology, which aligns with its common names. Like other jellyfish, its tentacles are equipped with nematocysts used for capturing and immobilizing prey. The species boasts a relatively short lifespan of approximately three to six months and comprises about 95% water.

Cephea cephea predominantly inhabits the Pelagic zone in the Indo-West Pacific, Eastern Atlantic, and the 🌊 Red Sea, thriving in cooler waters at depths exceeding 3,000 feet below the surface. This species is bioluminescent and typically resides in deeper waters during daylight, ascending to surface waters at night. Its diet primarily includes algae, shrimp, plankton, invertebrate eggs, and larvae. Sea turtles are identified as its most accessible natural predators.

The reproductive cycle of Cephea cephea parallels that of many jellyfish species. Adult jellyfish dispense sperm or eggs into the water, leading to the formation of fertilized planula larvae. These larvae attach to substrates like rocks, eventually developing into polyps. Through asexual reproduction, these polyps clone themselves, transitioning into the ephyra stage before maturing into adult medusae. Factors such as water temperature and food availability significantly impact the efficacy of the asexual reproduction phase.

Although considered highly venomous, Cephea cephea's sting is benign to humans. In 🇯🇵 Japan and 🇨🇳 China, it is esteemed as a culinary delicacy and is also applied in various medicinal contexts.