Cassiopeia xamachana

Bigelow, 1892

Suction Cup Jellyfish, Upside-Down Jellyfish

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

Size: 10 inches (25 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow lagoons having seagrass beds, sandy and muddy substrates, and mangrove areas.

Aquarium Suitability: Not usually collected for the home aquarium trade.

Photosynthetic, yet also absorbs nutrients from the surrounding water.

Should it become a desired species, moderate water currents along with a generous supply of Artemia nauplii are its basic requirements in captivity.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Scyphozoa

Order: Rhizostomeae

Family: Cassiopeidae

Genus: Cassiopeia

FYI: This species contains nematocysts that will sting human skin and a rash will develop, so contact with the bare skin should be avoided.