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| jellyfish text index | photo index |
| Phylum Cnidaria > jellyfish > Class Scyphozoa > Order Rhizostomeae |
| Upsidedown
jellyfish Cassiopea sp. Family Cassiopeidae updated Aug 10 Where seen? This topsy turvy jellyfish can be seasonally common on Pulau Semakau, found throughout the intertidal from the seagrass meadows to the reef flats. Features: Bell about 4-12cm, with short stout branched oral arms. The oral arm length about half the diameter of the bell. There is usually a pattern of white bars on the upper and underside of the bell. The animal prefers to be 'upside down', with its bell facing the sea floor and tentacles facing upwards toward the light. When one it turned the 'right' way up, it will slowly turn itself upside down again. In its preferred position, with only its oral arms visible and bell hidden, it is sometimes mistaken for a sea anemone. The jellyfish harbours microscopic, single-celled algae (called zooxanthallae) inside its body. The algae undergo photosynthesis to produce food from sunlight. The food produced is shared with the jellyfish, which in return provides the algae with shelter and minerals. It is the algae which gives the jellyfish its colours. Because it relies on photosynthesis, the jellyfish tends to be found in shallow waters. |
 Pulau Semakau, Mar 08  |
 Pulau Semakau, Nov 07  |
 Upside down.  |
 Turning around.  |
Upsidedown jellyfishes on Singapore shores
 Pulau Semakau, Nov 07 |
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| Acknowlegement With grateful thanks to Dr Michael N Dawson of the University of California, Merced for identification of this jellyfish. Links
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