Haliclystus auricula

In 2010, Natural England, The Guardian and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History ran a competition asking members of the public to provide a common name for this species. The name "Kaleidoscope Jellyfish," submitted by Kepler Petzall, was eventually chosen.[1] Runner-up names included Fractal flower jellyfish and Mermaid's trumpet jellyfish.[1]

H. auricula is 2-2.5 cm tall with the stalk accounting for half of the height of the organism. The remainder of the organism is shaped like a funnel, the colour of which varies across the species from grey/green to red/brown. It has eight arms which radiate out from a central mouth. Each arm is tipped by clusters of up to 100 tentacles and connected by a thin membrane. Primary tentacles known as anchors are located on the membrane margin between the arms. The kidney-shape of these appendages is a key distinguishing feature of this species.[2]

H. auricula is one of ten species of Haliclystus found in the Northern hemisphere.[3] It is very sensitive to pollution. The populations along the British coastline are in decline.[4] Distribution includes the Shetland Isles, Orkney, western coast of England, Scotland and Ireland.[5]

This species lives in shallow water that has adequate circulation on marine eelgrass and other algae.[2] Depths they are found in range from mid-eulittoral to shallow sublittoral.[6] H. auricula is able to move location by attaching a specialised tentacle to the substrate as an anchor, detaching its base and 'cartwheeling' into the new position.[4]

This species reproduces by sexual means. H. auricula is most abundant in a given location in midsummer.[7] Like all stalked jellyfish, a single H. auricula individual is believed to live for only one year.[7] Diet consists of benthic species, primarily crustaceans.[8]

• Haliclystus auricula entry on the Marine Life Information Network
• Haliclystus auricula entry on WoRMS