Genus
Polyorchis
Polyorchis penicillatus. Photo: (c) Morton Jonuschat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Polyorchis or Bell Jellies are not a true jelly but actually a hydromedusae, or hydrozoans like Velella and Portuguese Man-of-War. They are transparent with red coloration in their internal organs and eyespots around the rim of their bell. The red pigmentation helps them camouflage. They are often found in harbors, marinas, and other calm waters close to shore. They feed on plankton and benthic crustaceans and are found near the sea floor. Bell jellies bells can…
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