Bougainvillia spp.

This may be my favourite jelly.  Its very name, Bougainvillia, brings to mind tropical bougainvillea flowers bursting forth and that is indeed what the tentacles seem to be doing — bursting from the four pinkish bulbs that mark the end of the four radial canals.  It is a small medusa (less than 12 mm) and unless its tentacles are hanging down in anticipation of passing food, or its bulbs are a particularly dark pink or red, it can be difficult to see.  For more information regarding the various Bougainvillia species in the Salish Sea see pages 26 to 28 of Claudia Mills’ comprehensive document on Cnidarians

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