(Lurefjorden - Hordaland / 20 meters / 4.24.2004)

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Scyphozoa

Order: Semaeostomaeida

Family: Periphyllidae

Scientific name: Periphylla periphylla

 

Norwegian: kronemanet

Distribution: P. periphylla is probably quite common in the Norwegian fjords, but is rarely seen by divers. It usually lives deeper than 200 meters. Several registrations have been made along the west coast of Norway, as far north as the Trondheim fjord.

Divers may encounter it on a few rare locations. These locations are dominated by strong tidal currents, forcing water from 200 meters or more up, towards the surface. In Lurefjorden (Hordaland) water from 200 meters depth is forced into the fjord through a shallow (20 meters) and narrow (200 meters) sill entrance. The other location is Skarnsundet in the Trondheim fjord. Here the entrance is more than 200 meters deep, so most of the helmet jellies pass below the common scuba diver. Observations have been made as shallow as 15 meters, though.

Characteristics: The conical or hemispherical dome of the P. periphylla may reach a height of 35 cm. The 12 tentacles can be more than 50 cm long. The color varies from pale pink or orange to dark red.

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