Pacific Sea Nettle

jellyfish · ocean · Pacific Ocean · stinging

Drifting ocean wanderer. The Pacific sea nettle lives in cool waters off the West Coast from British Columbia all the way down to Mexico, floating wherever the currents take it.

Where it got its name. This jellyfish is called a 'sea nettle' because its sting works like the stinging nettle plant you might find on land, causing irritation to skin that touches it.

A defensive superpower. The Pacific sea nettle uses its stinging tentacles to protect itself from danger, much like how a porcupine uses its quills.

Rarely truly dangerous. While a sting from a Pacific sea nettle can be annoying and irritating, it's not usually serious enough to cause real harm to humans.