# Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly (*cyanea ferruginea*) The Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly is a beautiful jellyfish with long, flowing tentacles that look like a lion's mane! It floats gracefully in the ocean and can be found in warm waters. - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** They live in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, often near coastal areas. - **Also known as:** Lion's Mane Jellyfish, Mane Jelly, Woolly Jelly ![Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cyanea_ferruginea.png&width=800) Photo: Price Foster, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyanea_ferruginea.png) ## Appearance The Pacific Lion'S Mane Jelly has a large, flattened bell, usually reddish-brown, yellow, or orange. Its bell is divided into eight distinct lobes. It is visually striking due to its dense, flowing curtain of extremely long, fine tentacles beneath the bell. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Cnidaria - **Class:** Scyphozoa - **Order:** Semaeostomeae - **Family:** Cyaneidae - **Genus:** Cyanea ## Interesting facts - Its long tentacles can stretch longer than a blue whale, making it one of the longest animals! - Lion's Mane Jellies have no brain, heart, or blood, yet they are skilled hunters! - Smaller fish often hide safely amongst its stinging tentacles, using them for protection! - These amazing creatures are 95% water, like a living ocean blob! ## Special abilities - **Venomous Net:** Pacific Lion'S Mane Jelly has stinging cells (nematocysts) on its tentacles that help them catch prey and defend against predators. - **Glow Power:** Pacific Lion'S Mane Jelly can glow in the dark (bioluminesce) because of special proteins in their cells. - **Jet Propulsion:** Pacific Lion'S Mane Jelly can propel itself through water by rhythmically pulsing its bell, which helps them move and encounter food. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 70 cm - **Size:** 1000 cm - **Weight:** 15 kg - **Lifespan:** 0.75 years ## Diet & Feeding They float through the ocean, catching tiny creatures with their long, sticky, stinging tentacles. - **Primary Foods:** zooplankton, small fish, crustaceans, other jellyfish - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Ocean Sunfish (*Mola mola*) — Sunfish are known predators of jellyfish. - **Eaten by:** [Loggerhead Sea Turtle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/loggerhead-sea-turtle) (*Caretta caretta*) — Sea turtles eat these jellies without getting stung. - **Hunts:** Northern Anchovy (*Engraulis mordax*) — Actively captures small fish with its venomous tentacles. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always observe jellyfish from a safe distance as they can sting. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly? Look for fins, arms, tentacles, shells and body symmetry. Underwater light shifts colors, so structure and markings usually matter more than shade. Sea Creature Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly? 70 cm ### How much does Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly weigh? 15 kg ### How long does Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly live? 0.75 years ### What does Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly eat? They float through the ocean, catching tiny creatures with their long, sticky, stinging tentacles. ### Where is Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly usually found? They live in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, often near coastal areas. ### How does Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Saxman Totem Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saxman-totem-park) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [East Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Amalik Bay Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amalik-bay-archeological-district) — US · Historic District - [Sandwell Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sandwell-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Magnolia Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/magnolia-park) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pacific-lions-mane-jelly) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pacific-lions-mane-jelly)