花笠水母是(shi)水螅蟲綱為數不(bu)多的(de)(de)“大(da)型”水母,其傘部直(zhi)徑可達18厘米(mi),與其他(ta)體(ti)型通常只有(you)(you)一兩(liang)厘米(mi)其他(ta)水螅水母相比(bi),簡直(zhi)就是(shi)巨(ju)人。花笠水母傘部有(you)(you)不(bu)規則輻射(she)分(fen)布的(de)(de)黑(hei)色(se)條紋,在黑(hei)色(se)條紋的(de)(de)末(mo)端(duan)都有(you)(you)一條短觸手。
主要分布在西太平(ping)洋的日本(ben)溫帶(dai)海域,南美洲東部沿(yan)海也有分布。
花笠水母(mu)有兩種(zhong)觸(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)(shou),一種(zhong)是(shi)數(shu)目眾(zhong)多(duo)的(de)(de)短觸(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)(shou),大(da)量生(sheng)長(chang)于傘(san)(san)(san)緣,傘(san)(san)(san)面上也有少量短觸(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)(shou)(極少種(zhong)類的(de)(de)水母(mu)傘(san)(san)(san)上有觸(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)(shou)),短觸(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)(shou)的(de)(de)末端呈現熒光(guang)(guang)綠和熒光(guang)(guang)玫瑰紅(hong)(hong)色(se)十(shi)分(fen)美麗(li),這種(zhong)觸(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)(shou)主要起攀(pan)附與防(fang)御的(de)(de)作用;另一種(zhong)觸(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)(shou)很長(chang),只(zhi)分(fen)布在傘(san)(san)(san)緣,數(shu)量較(jiao)稀少,通常卷曲成彈(dan)簧形狀。這種(zhong)長(chang)觸(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)(shou)的(de)(de)主要作用是(shi)捕(bu)食獵物。傘(san)(san)(san)體下部有四個粉紅(hong)(hong)色(se)呈十(shi)字排列(lie)的(de)(de)生(sheng)殖器,水母(mu)的(de)(de)嘴延伸出一個垂唇(chun),垂唇(chun)邊上也有熒光(guang)(guang)色(se)。
花笠水(shui)(shui)(shui)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)是少數底棲的水(shui)(shui)(shui)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu),一生(sheng)很少游(you)動,主(zhu)要用(yong)(yong)(yong)短觸手(shou)粘在海床或海藻(zao)上,用(yong)(yong)(yong)觸手(shou)在海底捕(bu)食獵(lie)物。也正(zheng)因如此,水(shui)(shui)(shui)族(zu)館喂養它們成了難題(ti)。對于底棲的水(shui)(shui)(shui)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu),一般用(yong)(yong)(yong)吸管把食物送到水(shui)(shui)(shui)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)嘴邊的方法行不通(tong),水(shui)(shui)(shui)族(zu)館通(tong)常會把這種水(shui)(shui)(shui)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)放在有網子的水(shui)(shui)(shui)族(zu)箱中,使水(shui)(shui)(shui)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)附著(zhu)在網上,讓其觸手(shou)通(tong)過網眼捕(bu)食。