Fried-egg Jellies are common predators in our Salish Sea plankton community that mainly eat smaller species of jellies. All jellies capture prey with stinging cells in their tentacles, just like their relatives the anemones and corals. The fried-egg jelly has very weak stingers despite its large size. They can be safely handled by most people and small animals frequently hitch-hike on them. Fried-egg jellies can reach 20’ in length with a bell up to 2’ wide by mid-summer. The orange center is the gonad for sexual reproduction and produces either eggs or sperm cast into the water. We typically see fried-egg jellies every day on our kayak tours in the San Juan Islands, sometimes by the dozens!

There are over 60 species of jellies that can be seen in the San Juan Islands of Washington state. Peak diversity occurs in spring while the larger, more impressive species dominate in summer. Many can be viewed on kayak trips as they usually feed close to the surface and often get washed up on shore. Our kayak tours at Sea Quest Expeditions are an excellent way to see, photograph, and learn more about these fascinating planktonic predators! Video by kayak guide Elizabeth Robinson. www.sea-quest-kayak.com