White-spotted Jellyfish

Scientific name: Phyllorhiza punctata

Updated

15/10/24
Read time

2 minutes

White-spotted Jellyfish, Phyllorhiza punctata — White-spotted Jellyfish, *Phyllorhiza punctata*. Image: Falk Viczian Solarboot-Projekte
© CC BY-NC 4.0

Fast Facts

Classification

Genus

Phyllorhiza

Species

punctata

Order

Rhizostomeae

Class

Scyphozoa

Phylum

Cnidaria

Kingdom

Animalia
Size Range

50 cm

Introduction

This large and spectacular jellyfish is common during the summer months in New South Wales coastal waters and estuaries, including Sydney Harbour.

Identification

The White-spotted Jellyfish is easily recognised by the large, semi-transparent, rounded bell covered in regularly spaced, white dots. The trailing tentacles also end in whitened spots.

Habitat

White-spotted Jellyfish live in oceans and coastal waters.

Distribution

White-spotted Jellyfish are found throughout Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Economic impacts

The White-spotted Jellyfish is causing a problem overseas, particularly in the Caribbean region. It may have hitched a ride in ships' ballast tanks, travelling from Australia and the Pacific region to the Caribbean. Here, it found an ideal place to breed, free of their natural predators (various Pacific-region snails).