Fresh water jellyfish? In Holliday Lake? Yes and yes!

Craspedacusta sowerbyi

We’ve known about these interesting little creatures for some time now. Most park guests (even swimmers at our beach) would never come in contact with them or even know about them. They are so small that they are incapable of stinging a human. But since they are fascinating, here’s a little bit of information about them.

According to the U. S. Geological Survey’s website, Craspedacusta sowerbyi is a Hydrozoan (Phylum Cnidaria, Class Hydrozoa), which is most easily identified when it takes the form of a small, bell-shaped jellyfish, known as a hydromedusa. The hydromedusa measures about 5-25 mm in diameter, and is translucent with a whitish or greenish tinge. They appear globally with most occurrences in warm to moderate climates.

For those citizen scientists out there, you can find out much more information here and here.

But for the rest of us, aren’t they neat?

Learn more about Holliday Lake State Park here.