Alarm Jellyfish

Atolla wyvillei, also known as the Atolla jellyfish or Coronate medusa, is a species of deep-sea crown jellyfish. It lives in oceans around the world. Like many species of mid-water animals, it is deep red in color.

It typically has 20 marginal tentacles and one hypertrophied tentacle which is larger than the rest. This long trailing tentacle is thought to facilitate prey capture.

This species is bioluminescent.[6] When attacked, it will launch a series of flashes and, whose function is to draw predators who will be more interested in the attacker than itself. This has earned the animal the nickname "alarm jellyfish".

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Image courtesy of Edith A. Widder, Operation Deep Scope 2005 Exploration, NOAA-OE

The deep-sea scyphozoan jellyfish, Atolla wyvillei, as seen under white light.

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The Atolla wyvillei jellyfish uses it bioluminescence qualities as a defense mechanism. When in danger, the jellyfish illuminates its organs, specifically its 8 gonads that make up the thick circular ring in the middle of the jellyfish.

This creates a very bright blue light that radiates from the jellyfish. This is used to distract the predator, or possibly scare them. Scientists also believe that this is also used to get the attention of other bigger predators to attack the smaller predator hunting the jellyfish. These distracting qualities of the bright blue light give the jellyfish time to evade danger while the larger predator eats the smaller one.  

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The deep-sea schyphozoan jellyfish, Atolla wyvillei, as seen from the Johnson Sea Link submersible with the lights on and then in the laboratory, after capture, with the lights off, exhibiting a burglar alarm display.

Strange Jellyfish Glowing in the Ocean Deep