Red-Spotted Siphonophore
| Name: | Red-Spotted Siphonophore |
| Scientific Name: | Forskalia edwardsi |
| Family: | Siphonophores |
| Taxonomic: | Forskaliidae |
| ID Group: | Anemones, Hydroids, Jellyfish |
| Size: | up to 2.5 in. |
| Depth Range: | In shallow waters (0 – 15 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen sometimes |
This Siphonophore has a clear body with a small gas float at the top. Below the float are many red-spotted, bell-shaped structures. Thin arms extend outward from the body, and several tentacles trail behind.
The Red-Spotted Siphonophore has a painful sting. Each tiny polyp in its colony carries powerful stinging cells that can cause intense redness and discomfort, which usually resolve quickly. It often drifts just below the surface or in open water, and its bell-shaped parts help it swim and change direction.