The Sea Wasp – Carybdea marsupialis is a small, transparent jellyfish belonging to the class Cubozoa. It is characterized by its box-shaped bell and its four tentacles, which are lined with stinging cells called nematocysts.
Description & Characteristics
The Sea Wasp – Carybdea marsupialis has a transparent, bell-shaped body that can reach a maximum size of about 2.5 centimeters in diameter. The bell is typically square or rectangular in shape, with four distinct corners. Its four tentacles extend from each corner of the bell, and are covered in stinging cells that deliver a powerful venom. Despite its size, the Sea Wasp – Carybdea marsupialis is a formidable predator, capable of paralyzing and consuming small prey.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Sea Wasp – Carybdea marsupialis is found in coastal waters around the world, typically in warm, tropical and subtropical regions. It is commonly encountered in estuaries, bays, and harbors, particularly in areas with high levels of plankton. The Sea Wasp – Carybdea marsupialis is a common inhabitant of the neritic zone, which is the marine zone extending from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf. This zone is characterized by its relatively shallow waters and abundant sunlight, providing a favorable habitat for this species.
Taxonomy
The species Carybdea marsupialis belongs to the Class: Cubozoa, Order: Carybdeida, and Family: Carybdeidae. The Cubozoa, or box jellyfish, are a class of jellyfish characterized by their cube-shaped bell. The Order Carybdeida contains several species of small, box-shaped jellyfish, and the Family Carybdeidae is known for its members’ small size and relatively simple morphology.
Feeding
The Sea Wasp – Carybdea marsupialis is a predatory jellyfish that feeds on a variety of small marine organisms. Its diet primarily consists of zooplankton, including copepods, amphipods, shrimp, and fish larvae. It also consumes crustaceans such as Daphnia salina and Mysis. The Sea Wasp – Carybdea marsupialis utilizes its stinging tentacles to paralyze its prey before ingesting it. This makes it an important part of the marine food web, controlling populations of smaller organisms and serving as a food source for larger predators.
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