You’ve probably seen them in aquarium tanks or floating just offshore—those milky, gelatinous blobs with polka dots and long, frilly arms. Meet the white spotted jellyfish ( Phyllorhiza punctata ), a tropical jellyfish invader that's turning up far from home.

Originally native to the western Pacific and warm temperate seas near eastern Australia, this jellyfish has expanded its reach across the globe. The white spotted jellyfish now appears in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands, and even the Mediterranean coast.

Not Just Another Jellyfish

While they look harmless, these jellyfish can seriously disrupt local ecosystems. The white spotted jellyfish is considered an invasive species by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and tracked in the Nonindigenous A

See Full Page