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{{Confused|Cassiopeia}}
⚫ {{About|the genus of jellyfish|the constellation|Cassiopeia (constellation)|the character in Encantadia|Cassiopea (Encantadia)}}
{{Italic title}} {{Italic title}}
{{Taxobox {{Taxobox
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| image = fkeysmacro.jpg | image = fkeysmacro.jpg
| image_width = 250px | image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Cassiopea spp.'' | image_caption = ''Cassiopea sp.''
| status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
| regnum = ]ia | regnum = ]ia
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| classis = ] | classis = ]
| ordo = ] | ordo = ]
| familia = ] | familia = '''Cassiopeidae'''
| familia_authority = Agassiz, 1862
| genus = '''''Cassiopea''''' | genus = '''''Cassiopea'''''
| genus_authority = Péron & Lesueur, 1810
| subdivision_ranks = ] | subdivision_ranks = ]
| subdivision = | subdivision = 8 species, see ]
⚫ :'']''
⚫ :'']''
⚫ :'']''
⚫ :'']''
⚫ :'']''
}} }}
:''You may be looking for ]''
⚫ :''For the constellation with a similar name, see ]. For the fictional character in Encantadia, see ]. ''
⚫ '''''Cassiopea''''' is a ] of scyphozoan ] very commonly found in shallow mangrove swamps, mudflats, and turtle grass flats in Florida and various other similar environments around the world, where it lives usually upside-down on the bottom. Where found, there may be numerous individuals with varying shades of white, blue, green and brown. They have a mild sting since they are primarily photosynthetic, but sensitive individuals may have a stronger reaction. The ] occurs because, like ], they host ] in their tissues.<ref>{{cite book |last=Murphy |first=Richard C. |title=Coral Reefs: Cities Under The Sea |year=2002 |publisher=The Darwin Press |location=Princeton, New Jersey |ISBN=0-087850-138-X | ref=harv}}</ref> The stinging cells are excreted in a mucus; swimming over these jellies (especially using swim fins) may cause transparent, essentially invisible, sheets of this mucus to be lifted up into the water column, where they are then encountered by unsuspecting swimmers. The stings, appearing in the form of a red rash-like skin irritation, are notorious for being extraordinarily itchy.


'''''Cassiopea''''' ('''upside-down jellyfish''') is a ] of ] and the only members of the family '''Cassiopeidae'''.<ref>{{WoRMS |id=135234 |title=Cassiopeidae |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> They are found in warmer coastal regions around the world, including shallow mangrove swamps, mudflats, and ] flats in ]. The ] usually lives upside-down on the bottom, which has earned them the common name. Where found, there may be numerous individuals with varying shades of white, blue, green and brown.
The Cassiopea jellyfish (one common species is '']'') belongs to the Order ] and mostly lives in sandy areas and seagrass beds. The Cassiopea jellyfish is also called "Upside Down Jellyfish", because it lies on its back, so that the bell touches the ground. In this position it resembles a sea anemone. Sometimes this jellyfish is picked up by a ] (''Dorippe frascone'') and carried on its back. The crab uses the jellyfish to defend itself against possible predators.

] ]
⚫ They have a mild sting since they are primarily ], but sensitive individuals may have a stronger reaction. The photosynthesis occurs because, like most ]s, they host ] in their tissues.<ref>{{cite book |last=Murphy |first=Richard C. |title=Coral Reefs: Cities Under The Sea |year=2002 |publisher=The Darwin Press |location=Princeton, New Jersey |ISBN=0-087850-138-X | ref=harv}}</ref> The stinging cells are excreted in a mucus; swimming over these jellies (especially using swim fins) may cause transparent, essentially invisible, sheets of this mucus to be lifted up into the water column, where they are then encountered by unsuspecting swimmers. The stings, appearing in the form of a red rash-like skin irritation, are notorious for being extraordinarily itchy. Sometimes this jellyfish is picked up by the ] '']'' (family ]) and carried on its back. The crab uses the jellyfish to defend itself against possible predators.

==Species==
According to the '']'', this genus includes 8 species:<ref name=WoRMS>{{WoRMS |id=135253 |title=Cassiopea |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref>

⚫ * '']''
* '']''
⚫ * '']''
⚫ * '']''
⚫ * '']''
* '']''
* '']''
⚫ * '']''


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

==External links== ==External links==
* *

Revision as of 21:47, 3 August 2012

Not to be confused with Cassiopeia. This article is about the genus of jellyfish. For the constellation, see Cassiopeia (constellation). For the character in Encantadia, see Cassiopea (Encantadia).

Cassiopea
Cassiopea sp.
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Scyphozoa
Order: Rhizostomae
Family: Cassiopeidae
Agassiz, 1862
Genus: Cassiopea
Péron & Lesueur, 1810
Species

8 species, see text

Cassiopea (upside-down jellyfish) is a genus of true jellyfish and the only members of the family Cassiopeidae. They are found in warmer coastal regions around the world, including shallow mangrove swamps, mudflats, and turtle grass flats in Florida. The medusa usually lives upside-down on the bottom, which has earned them the common name. Where found, there may be numerous individuals with varying shades of white, blue, green and brown.

several white frondy creatures amongst strands of bright green seaweed
Cassiopea sp. in seaweed

They have a mild sting since they are primarily photosynthetic, but sensitive individuals may have a stronger reaction. The photosynthesis occurs because, like most corals, they host zooxanthellae in their tissues. The stinging cells are excreted in a mucus; swimming over these jellies (especially using swim fins) may cause transparent, essentially invisible, sheets of this mucus to be lifted up into the water column, where they are then encountered by unsuspecting swimmers. The stings, appearing in the form of a red rash-like skin irritation, are notorious for being extraordinarily itchy. Sometimes this jellyfish is picked up by the crab Dorippe frascone (family Dorippidae) and carried on its back. The crab uses the jellyfish to defend itself against possible predators.

Species

According to the World Register of Marine Species, this genus includes 8 species:

References

  1. "Cassiopeidae". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  2. Murphy, Richard C. (2002). Coral Reefs: Cities Under The Sea. Princeton, New Jersey: The Darwin Press. ISBN 0-087850-138-X. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  3. "Cassiopea". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 3 August 2012.

External links

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