The Atlantic sea nettle is a type of jellyfish found along the eastern coast of North and Central America, especially in bays, estuaries, and coastal waters from New England to the Gulf of Mexico. Known for its translucent body and trailing tentacles, it looks delicate—but don’t be fooled, this jellyfish has a sting!
Sea nettles are not fish at all—they’re invertebrates, meaning they have no bones, brain, or heart. Their soft, bell-shaped bodies pulse rhythmically to help them move, and long tentacles dangle below to help them catch food like tiny fish and plankton.
The Atlantic sea nettle typically has a milky white or amber-colored bell with brownish stripes radiating outward. From the center, it has four frilly oral arms and dozens of thin, hair-like tentacles that can stretch several feet.
They use stinging cells (called cnidocytes) to paralyze prey. While their sting can cause mild irritation to humans (similar to a bee sting), they’re not dangerous and are fascinating to watch—especially in aquariums, where they glide gently in special jellyfish tanks.
In the wild, sea nettles help keep plankton populations in check and are an important food source for ocean animals like sea turtles and sunfish. In aquariums, they’re popular for their glowing, drifting appearance and peaceful movements.
