Comb Jellies

I have walked this trail many times; it’s full of promise. I took the photo above just after 6 am on June 22.

Above the low tide mark, I found the beach strewn with sea gooseberries or cat’s eyes. These are Pleurobrachia bachei, the commonest comb jelly you’ll see cast up on theoutershores beaches. They are about the size of marbles.

Here’s a more substantial comb jelly. This one might be Beroe or Bolinopsis, or maybe there’s an alternative I don’t know. There isn’t evidence of oral lobes or a slightly compressed, helmet-shaped body (Bolinopsis features). Still, the tissues are delicate, and this is the first time I’ve looked closely at comb jellies – I’m leaning toward Beroe – a nice cucumber-shaped body. Maybe it’s something else. What do you think? I would appreciate it if anyone out there could help me with the identification. Whatever it is, I see these occasionally around the low tide mark. If it’s Beroe, it’s a Pleurobrachia predator, capturing and swallowing the little gooseberries whole!

I updated this post on September 20, 2022.