The deep-sea crown jelly Atolla is one of the most common residents of the ocean. Its bell has a signature scarlet color and bears one tentacle much longer than the rest. So 15 years ago, when MBARI researchers <a href="https://www.mbari.org/new-atolla" alt="spotted a jelly that looked like Atolla" class="on">spotted a jelly that looked like Atolla</a>, but lacked the telltale trailing tentacle, their curiosity was piqued. The new discovery is relatively large compared to other species of Atolla. The largest specimen ever collected was 13 centimeters (5.1 inches) in diameter, making this newly discovered species, called the A. reynoldsi, one of the largest in the genus. The “crown” in A. reynoldsi has warty papillae and spiked ridges. It also has a distinct gut that is shaped like a Greek cross.&nbsp;The new species is named after Jeff Reynolds, the first volunteer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and honors the contributions of Aquarium volunteers to inspiring conservation of the ocean. “This is such an honor to have this new species named after me. It also honors all the fantastic Aquarium volunteers over the decades, I was just the lucky one to be there so early on,” said Reynolds.#CrownJelly #NewSpecies #Atolla #MontereyBayAquarium #MBARI

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