Sea Walnut
Mnemiopsis leidyi
The sea walnut is a transparent comb jelly found in coastal and estuarine waters, especially in the western Atlantic and many invaded seas. It drifts and swims by beating rows of cilia that shimmer with rainbow-like light, capturing zooplankton, fish eggs, and larvae with sticky oral lobes rather than stinging cells. Its soft body makes it fragile, but it can reproduce rapidly when food is abundant. A notable fact is that introduced populations have caused major plankton and fishery disruptions, especially in the Black Sea.
- Type
- Water
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- ?
- Sea Walnut