Belongs to the Order Lobata, Family Bolinopsidae
It is found in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, North Sea, western Baltic sea and Black Sea.
It is a hermaphrodite, pelagic species which is only encountered near the coastline in large schools during the spring and summer (when this photo was taken). Its corporal papillae have poisonous glands which are used during feeding. The animal is largely transparent and uses bioluminance, although this is only visible in the dark. The total length of this animal is about 10 cm.
Photo by Andreas Iliopoulos, Text by George J. Reclos/MCH
|