Compass jellyfish
Chrysaora hysoscella
IUCN Status:Not Evaluated
Where can they be found?
Found mainly in the west, but can appear anywhere.
Please note: this map is intended as a guide for general locations rather than detailed localised populations.
Did you know... Despite their name, compass jellyfish have no control over their direction as they have no brain. They rely on tides and currents to move.
Key facts about Compass jellyfishs
The compass jellyfish can vary in colour, but is usually recognised by its pale, umbrella‑shaped bell marked with distinctive brown V‑shaped lines, arranged like the points of a compass. With its classic rounded bell and long trailing tentacles, it’s often considered the most typical‑looking jellyfish. This species is capable of delivering a painful sting to humans.
Occasionally, you may spot a juvenile fish sheltering safely among its tentacles - some young fish seem unaffected by the jellyfish’s stings, so use the tentacles as protection from predators.
Compass jellyfish are consistently recorded within the top 4 jellyfish seen as part of our annual wildlife sightings data.
| IUCN status | Not Evaluated |
|---|---|
| Age | Compass jellyfish have short life spans of around a year. |
| Diet | Compass jellyfish are partial to small fish and, like a scene from a horror movie, enjoy tucking into other jellyfish. |
| Habitat | Open ocean |
| Length | 30cm |
| Speed and distance | Defined as a planktonic species, one which is subjected to movement through currents, winds and tides, there is no speed recorded for this species. We do know that they pulse rhythmically through the water - going with the tide as they're not strong swimmmers. |
| Weight | 200 – 2,400g |
