The Mauve Stinger jellyfish, known as Pelagia noctiluca, is a widely-studied, common, bioluminescent jellyfish that can be found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters. The Pelagia noctiluca is currently the only species in its genus, but there are similar, yet undefined, jellies that have been observed in Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico. The Mauve Stinger is relatively small and can be variable in color, but the main distinction is that both the tentacles and the bell of this jellyfish are capable of stings. The stings of the Mauve Stinger, while painful, are not considered dangerous. However, when masses of Mauve Stingers wash upon shores they can affect tourism and fish economies due to their presence making the beaches inhabitable and gumming up fishing nets.
Mauve Stingers have a bell width between 1.18”-3.94” (3-10 cm), bell height of .79”-2.75” (2-7 cm), and overall length of 3.15”-11” (8-28 cm). The typical lifespan of the Mauve Stinger is 6-9 months.
The Mauve Stinger jellyfish, known as Pelagia noctiluca, is a widely-studied, common, bioluminescent jellyfish that can be found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters. The Pelagia noctiluca is currently the only species in its genus, but there are similar, yet undefined, jellies that have been observed in Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico. The Mauve Stinger is relatively small and can be variable in color, but the main distinction is that both the tentacles and the bell of this jellyfish are capable of stings. The stings of the Mauve Stinger, while painful, are not considered dangerous. However, when masses of Mauve Stingers wash upon shores they can affect tourism and fish economies due to their presence making the beaches inhabitable and gumming up fishing nets.
Mauve Stingers have a bell width between 1.18”-3.94” (3-10 cm), bell height of .79”-2.75” (2-7 cm), and overall length of 3.15”-11” (8-28 cm). The typical lifespan of the Mauve Stinger is 6-9 months.