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Cannonball jellyfish

Its dome-shaped bell can reach 25 cm (10 in) in diameter and, in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, the rim is sometimes colored with brown pigment. In the Pacific, this jellyfish can also be a blue pigment. 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 eat mainly zooplankton and also all forms of red drum larvae. Although cannonballs do not commonly sting humans, they do have toxins which can cause cardiac problems in animals and humans. Also it is harmful to the eyes; contact with a nematocyst can be very painful, followed by redness and swelling.

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Uploaded on March 13, 2020
Taken on March 4, 2020