What types of jellyfish are in NC?

- Large, saucer-shaped jellyfish with a bell diameter of up to 10 inches.

- Transparent body with a bluish or pinkish hue.

- Long, trailing tentacles.

- Common in coastal waters of North Carolina during the summer months.

- Sting is mild and causes only skin irritation.

Cannonball jellyfish (_Stomolophus meleagris_):

- Large, round jellyfish with a bell diameter of up to 7 inches.

- Transparent body with a white or yellowish hue.

- Short, stubby tentacles.

- Common in coastal waters of North Carolina during the summer months.

- Sting is mild and causes only skin irritation.

Portuguese man o' war (_Physalia physalis_):

- Not a true jellyfish, but a colonial organism consisting of several different types of polyps and medusae.

- Large, oval float with a crest that protrudes above the water's surface.

- Long, trailing tentacles that can extend up to 50 feet.

- Common in coastal waters of North Carolina during the summer months.

- Sting is painful and can cause severe skin irritation, blistering, and even death in rare cases.

Sea wasp (_Chironex fleckeri_):

- A small, box-shaped jellyfish with a bell diameter of only about 1 inch.

- Transparent body with a blue or purple hue.

- Short, stumpy tentacles.

- Very rare in coastal waters of North Carolina, but can be found in more tropical waters.

- Sting is excruciatingly painful and can cause paralysis, heart failure, and even death.