Come to the Tropical Pacific exhibit at the Aquarium to see our latest addition: spotted lagoon jellyfish, Mastigias papua. These jellyfish are actually photosynthetic; however, they still need to predate on plankton in order to survive. Also, instead of having one mouth, like the moon jellyfish, these animals have eight!
They’re also very active, always pulsating across the exhibit. Occasionally, they will flip upside-down and pulsate on the bottom—this is thought to allow more light to the zooxanthellae (symbiotic algae) living inside them to receive more light.
Come on down to the Seattle Aquarium and enjoy these charming animals!