This species spends its entire life cycle(holeopelagic) at the oceans surface, attached by the foot to a raft of mucus covered bubbles. It is carnivorous, preying on pelagic Cnidarians such as Porpita sp, Velella velella and Physalia sp(Bluebottle). This is the largest and commonest species found on Australian beaches but has an almost worldwide distribution.

Overgrown with Lepas pectinata

Feeding on Physalia

© All images Copyright 2010 Denis Riek. All rights reserved.