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Fried Egg Jellyfish

The fried egg jellyfish looks just like its name — its bright yellow dome resembles an egg yolk! 

 

This easily recognizable jellyfish is a common sight in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, earning it its other common name — the Mediterranean jellyfish. Its bell, which averages about 35 centimeters (13.8 inches) across, features a raised golden center surrounded by a translucent “white” rim — creating the classic fried egg look. Although it may seem completely unique, there are actually multiple species of jellyfish with this golden and white coloring that have earned the nickname “fried egg jellyfish!” Beneath the jellyfish’s bell hang clusters of short, frilly arms that contain stinging cells, although they are generally harmless to humans.  

This jellyfish has a fascinating symbiotic relationship with tiny algae that live inside its tissues. These algae photosynthesize and provide extra nutrients to the jellyfish, giving it an energy boost and contributing to its vivid coloration. In return, the algae gets elements that it depends on from the jellyfish like nitrogen and phosphorus. Fried egg jellyfish also feed on microplankton.

 

 

While currently very common and not considered threatened, fried egg jellyfish can be affected by broader changes in ocean ecosystems. Climate change, which brings shifts in water temperature and ocean acidification, may impact these jellyfish in the future if it continues to worsen. Research has shown that if waters become especially warm and acidic, the reproduction of fried egg jellyfish may be negatively impacted, which could threaten their survival.

 

 

Protecting our oceans and combatting climate change can help ensure that these unusual and vibrant jellyfish continue to thrive in Mediterranean waters. Oceana supports policies that address climate change, reduce fossil fuel production, and encourage the transition to safe, renewable energy. 

 

 

  • Aouititen M, Ravibhanu A, Ang SC, Mouanda DCM, and Luan, X (2024) New records of two jellyfish species Rhizostoma luteum (Quoy and Gaimard 1827) and Cotylorhiza tuberculata (Macri 1778) in the Moroccan northwest Mediterranean coast. Discover Life 54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11084-024-09649-2 
  • Enrique-Navarro A, Huertas IE, Leo´n Cobo MJ, and Prieto L (2021) Impact of ocean warming and ocean acidification on asexual reproduction and statolith formation of the symbiotic jellyfish Cotylorhiza tuberculata. PLoS ONE 16(8): e0254983. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0254983 
  • Enrique-Navarro A, Huertas E, Flander-Putrle V, et al. (2022) Living Inside a Jellyfish: The Symbiosis Case Study of Host-Specialized Dinoflagellates, “Zooxanthellae”, and the Scyphozoan Cotylorhiza tuberculata. Frontiers in Marine Science 9:817312. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.817312 
  • İsinibilir M, Yuksel E and Dalyan C (2021) First record of Cotylorhiza tuberculata (Macri, 1778) from the sea of Marmara. Aquatic Sciences and Engineering, 36: 38-41. 
  • Kikinger R. (2008) Cotylorhiza tuberculata (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) ‐ Life History of a Stationary Population. Marine Ecology 13: 333-362. DOI:10.1111/j.1439-0485.1992.tb00359.x 
  • Moura CJ, Ropa N, Magalhães BI, and Gonçalves JM (2022) Insight into the cryptic diversity and phylogeography of the peculiar fried egg jellyfish Phacellophora (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa, Ulmaridae). PeerJ 10:e13125 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13125 

 

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