Japanese Sea Nettleアカクラゲ

Chrysaora pacificaNE— Not Evaluated

The Japanese sea nettle is a strikingly striped jellyfish found along the coasts of Japan and Taiwan, appearing from spring to summer. Its sting is powerful enough to be genuinely painful, and even its dried, airborne nematocysts can trigger sneezing in people nearby.

Japanese Sea Nettle (reference photo)
Photo: Syrio / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Semaeostomeae / Pelagiidae Source
Size
Bell diameter about 9–21 cm (sources vary)
Diet
Carnivore Carnivorous, feeding mainly on zooplankton and, as it grows, also preying on small fish, krill, and other jellyfish
Distribution
Found in the northwest Pacific from northeastern Taiwan to Mutsu Bay in Aomori, Japan, typically appearing from spring to summer. Source
Sources
ja.wikipedia.org kuroshio.or.jp en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

  • When dried, its venomous nematocysts can become airborne and trigger sneezing if inhaled, earning it the Japanese nickname "sneezing jellyfish." Source
  • According to legend, the warlord Sanada Nobushige used powdered specimens of this jellyfish as a weapon, giving it the alternate nickname "Sanada jellyfish." Source
  • When injured, it can restore its symmetry through a process called "symmetrization," reorganizing its remaining body parts rather than regenerating the lost tissue. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 4

Sumida AquariumTokyoRight by Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line.

Source

NOTOJIMA AQUARIUMIshikawaThe nearest station is Wakura-Onsen Station.

Source

Osaka Aquarium KaiyukanOsakaOpened in 1990

Source

Toba AquariumMieOpened in 1955

Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated (NE)

Sources

en.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Why is the Japanese sea nettle called the "sneezing jellyfish"?
When its body dries out, venomous nematocysts can become airborne, and inhaling them causes sneezing, which is how it earned the nickname in Japanese. Source
What does the Japanese sea nettle eat?
It feeds mainly on zooplankton when young, and as it grows it also preys on small fish, krill, and other jellyfish. Source
When can you see Japanese sea nettles in the wild?
They typically appear along Japanese coastlines from spring through summer. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 4 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org