Cannonball jellyfish: Where It Lives, Map & Facts

Where the cannonball jellyfish lives – recorded in 2 countries, with quick facts from Wikidata and an introduction from Wikipedia.

Scientific name	Stomolophus meleagris
Group	Jellyfish, corals & anemones
Found in	2 countries
Continents	North America, South America
Class	Cnidarian
Order	Rhizostomeae
Family	Stomolophidae

Where does the cannonball jellyfish live?

Open-licence (CC0 / CC BY) wild records published on GBIF place the cannonball jellyfish in 2 countries and territories across North America and South America.

Countries with at least a handful of records (a minimum share of the species’ records, to leave out vagrants and escapes). Records with coordinates only; captive and fossil records excluded.

What kind of animal is the cannonball jellyfish?

The cannonball jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris) is a cnidarian in the order Rhizostomeae and the family Stomolophidae, genus Stomolophus. (Taxonomy from Wikidata.)

About the cannonball jellyfish

The cannonball jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris), also known as the cabbagehead jellyfish, is a species of jellyfish in the family Stomolophidae. Its common name derives from its similarity to a cannonball in shape and size. Its scientific name means “many mouthed hunter”. Its dome-shaped bell can reach 25 cm (10 in) in diameter. The rim is often colored with brown pigment. There are several known undescribed Stomolophus species found in the Pacific and South Atlantic that exhibit pale to blue pigment. They are genetically different from the individuals found in the North Atlantic - but are commonly misidentified as such. Underneath the body is a cluster of oral arms that extend out around the mouth. These arms function in propulsion and as an aid in catching prey. Cannonballs are prominent from North America's eastern seaboard to the Gulf of Mexico.

Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Cannonball jellyfish (revision 1363114374), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: lead section excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Quick facts, taxonomy and status: Wikidata Q311541 (CC0). Countries and pin: GBIF.org occurrence records (CC0 / CC BY 4.0).