Serving Demogorgon vibes for the start of spooky season 🎃
Atolla gigantea is the largest Atolla species that occurs off the West Coast. This species of deep-sea crown jelly can reach a diameter of up to 15 centimeters (six inches). It is also a hefty animal with a bulky body. MBARI has only encountered this species a dozen times.
Atolla belongs to the order Coronatae. Jellies in this order have a distinctive furrowed bell. A deep groove runs around the bell, separating the domed, lens-like top from the thick margin. The edge of the bell has wide segments, known as pedalia, that contain finger-like lappets. The thick edge of the bell resembles a crown, earning this group of jellies its regal name.The deep-sea crown jelly is one of the most widely distributed jellyfish. The genus occurs worldwide, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Scientists currently recognize 10 species of Atolla, but they can be hard to distinguish, and undoubtedly, some are undescribed species.
Learn more about these regal residents on the deep in our Animals of the Deep gallery.