Sea Nettle Jellyfish (Chrysaora melanaster) are Landing

Observation by Mike Brubaker

Several washing up on the beach here. This one a very nice specimen. I suspect this is a typical kind of moon jelly. But I am not very good on jellies and wondering the species.

Kristin Cieciel, Biologist at the Auke Bay Lab, writes:

This is a Chrysaora melanaster, the northern sea nettle.

Comments from LEO Editors:

The northern sea nettle is a native jellyfish species in the northern Pacific Ocean, generally found at depths of up to 100 meters. The bell of the sea nettle can grow up to 60cm, or about 24 inches, with white, brown and orange stripes. They will have anywhere from 24-32 orange tentacles, which can sting humans if touched. Source: Arctic Ocean Diversity, Sea Nettle Species Profile

Jellyfish are often found stranded on beaches. In 2016, the Anchorage Daily News published an article that takes a closer look at the Kachemak Bay Jellyfish Graveyard.