Description below images.                                                                         Return to Jellies of the Salish Sea

The Aequoriea victoria (commonly referred to as the Crystal Jelly or Water Jelly) is a relatively large jelly found throughout the inner coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest, but it is often overlooked due to its transparency.  Fortunately, they stand out against the thick kelp and seaweed of the spring and summer months and are actually quite intricate in their design and presentation.  If you are fortunate enough (and have an ultraviolet or black light), you may see the edges of their bells light up in a bluish green florescence.  I have included a couple of images of juvenile jellies (approximately 1 month old) that appear to have a greenish glow to their stomach area. As innocuous as these jellies appear, they have proven to be of significant use to the medical profession providing GFP (Green Florescent Protein) markers used in molecular biology and genetic studies. C.E. Mills provides a wonderful explanation of my poor summation in her article Bioluminescence of Aequorea, a medusa   An illustration of this florescence can be seen via  Vancouver Aquarium. Like the Umbrella Jelly, the Water or Crystal Jelly belongs to the Order Leptothecata.