The Football Jellyfish, Yellow Mediterranean Cabbage Bleb, or Rhizostoma pulmo, is a fascinating marine creature with a unique appearance and ecological significance.
Description & Characteristics
Rhizostoma pulmo is a large jellyfish, often reaching up to 60 cm in diameter, with a dome-shaped bell that can resemble a football. Its lack of tentacles distinguishes it from other jellyfish species, instead sporting eight arms that branch into numerous finger-like projections. The bell is typically translucent with shades of white, blue, and yellow, giving it its “cabbage” nickname. Rhizostoma pulmo is a prominent inhabitant of the Mediterranean Sea, contributing to the region’s biodiversity.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Football Jellyfish, Yellow Mediterranean Cabbage Bleb, typically inhabits the subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, and deep zones of the oceans, from the lower limit of the intertidal zone to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth, often categorized as the neritic zone. It prefers warmer waters and is commonly found in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the northeastern Atlantic Ocean.
Taxonomy
The species Rhizostoma pulmo belongs to the Class: Scyphozoa, Order: Rhizostomeae, and Family: Rhizostomatidae. It is classified within the phylum Cnidaria, which encompasses a diverse range of aquatic organisms, including corals, jellyfish, and sea anemones.
Feeding
Rhizostoma pulmo is a carnivore, feeding primarily on plankton, which it filters through its numerous finger-like projections. These projections are covered in tiny pores called ostia, which trap plankton and other small organisms. As a result, it plays a vital role in the marine ecosystem, regulating the population of plankton and contributing to the food chain.
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