Mauve Stinger - Djibouti

Pelagia noctiluca - The mauve stinger is a common jellyfish found throughout the world. The color of the jellyfish varies by location and ranges from pink to tan. The name noctiluca implies the jelly fish is bioluminescent, able to produce light. The light is produced when the medusa, the top of the jelly fish is stimulated by the actions of the waves. The mauve stinger has eight thin stingers and four lobes descending from the sides and bottom of the medusa. It feeds primarily on zooplankton.

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The Sultanate of Ifat was a medieval state ruling over present day Djibouti from 1285 until 1415. It was succeeded by the Adal Sultanate, reigning from 1415 until 1559. The Adal Sultanate was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire as part of the Eyalet of Egypt. The Ottomans retained control of the area until France took over Djibouti, first as part of French Somalia, and then as the French territory of the Afars and the Issas. Djibouti became an independent state in 1977.

Venus Sea Fan - Saint Martin

Saint Martin is the smallest inhabited island in the world shared by two sovereign nations; the island of New Guinea is the largest. The French control the northern area and have a larger territorial share; the Dutch sector, referred to as Sint Martin, is larger in population. The island was divided in 1648 by the Treaty of Concordia.

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Gorgonia flabellum - The Venus sea fan is common in the waters around the Bahamas and Lesser Antilles. It prefers depths not exceeding 10 meters and is usually found in areas of strong and steady wave action. The intricate mesh skeleton does not consist of hardened calcium carbonate; it is a soft coral made of sclelites, small mobile structures able to flex back and forth against on-coming waves and currents to better feed on the passing plankton. Venus sea fans reach heights of 1.5 meters and are either yellow, white or lavender.

Venus Girdle - Sint Maartin

Saint Martin was discovered and named by Cristóbal Colón during his second voyage to the Americas. Spain’s lack of interest in the island provided opportunity for the Dutch and French to establish settlements. Spain briefly expelled the intruders, but in 1648, the Dutch and French returned and agreed to share the island.

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Cestum veneris - The Venus girdle, a comb jelly, is the only species contained in the Cestum genus. The ribbon shaped body glides through the sea through muscular undulation or by use of the cilia, small hairlike structures. The rows of cilia are found on one side and the mouth is located on the other. It grows to lengths ranging from .8 to 1.5 meters. The transparent body has iridescent edges and will display a bioluminescence effect when disturbed. The Venus girdle has a small set of tentacles near the mouth to assist in catching prey.

Stalked Jellyfish - England

England is divided into 9 regions and 48 ceremonial counties known as lieutenancy areas. These divisions have limited authority in setting public policy. For local governing, England is divided into a complex and non-uniform two-tier structure consisting of metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties along with several hundred districts.

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Craterolophus convolvulus - The Stauromedusae order is made up of various stalked jellyfish. There are about 50 known species within this order. Stalked jellyfish are commonly found along undisturbed coastal rocky areas in the northern regions of Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Compared to other jellyfish, species of the Stauromedusae order spend their lives attached to rocks or algae in an inverted position; tentacles up, umbrella down. Stalked jellyfish do not swim, but are able to move about in the same slow manner as sea anemones.