Blue blubber
- Scientific name
- Catostylus mosaicus
- Phylum
- Cnidaria
- Class
- Scyphozoa
- Sting-o-meter
- 2/5
- Diameter
- 20cm
The Blue blubber is the most conspicuous sea jelly found in estuaries along eastern Australia. Usually blue in Queensland waters, Catostylus is sometimes brown or white in southern waters.
Catostylus mosaicus is a voracious predator of zooplankton (microscopic animals) and grows from 1cm to over 20cm diameter in just three months! This species forms spectacular blooms that sometimes causes problems for fishing and shipping operations. Blue blubbers are edible and small quantities have been harvested in Australia for export to Asia.
Chinese cuisine has a blubber recipe called 'rubber band salad'!
For first aid, see Surf Life Saving Queensland fact sheet.
