Photo: Ellen McRae APR 2009
Blue Button (Porpita linneana)
Blue buttons were observed in Belize in
April 2009 at Caye Caulker, Hopkins and
at Glover's Atoll.  They had been
observed previously before in the early
90s at Hol Chan and in 2008 at Turneffe.

The light blue specimen was
photographed by Ellen McRae from
SIWABAN on Caye Caulker.  The darker
blue specimens were photographed by
Alex Tilley from the Wildlife
Conservation Society's field station at
Glover's Atoll.
Photo: Alex Tilley APR 2009
Blue Button (Porpita linneana)
Blue buttons are colonial animals
made up of individual polyps.  
Photo: Alex Tilley APR 2009
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Conservation through Education!
Animalia
Eumetazoa
Cnidaria
Medusozoa
Hydrozoa
Leptolinae
Anthomedusae
Capitata
Zancleida
Porpitidae
Scientific Classification
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Subclass
Order
Suborder
Infraorder
Family
From January to February 2007 large numbers of
cannon ball jellyfish were sighted at dive sites 10
miles east of Belize City at Gallow's Point.   While
cannon ball jellyfish are reported from New
known to be observed in Belize.  Cannon ball
jellyfish are a primary food item for migrating
leatherback sea turtles, the largest and most
endangered of sea turtles.
Cannon Ball Jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris)
Cnidaria
Rhizostomae
Stomolophidae
Stomolophus
meleagris
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Scientific Classification
jellyfish.  Commonly sighted "jellyfish" in Belize are the
Cnidaria are a diverse group of animals found in abundance
jellyfish.  In early 2007 thousands of cannonball jellyfish in
Belize.  Most common Cnidarians include the corals and
were observed on dive sites on the north central Belize
Barrier Reef at Gallow's Point.  Another rare sighting were
Belize.  If you see some unusual jelly like animals in the
water please send in your photos.  Great spots to observe
large plankton is at Gladden Spit where Venus Girdles have
been sighted.
APR 2009
Glover's Atoll
Gallow's Point