花笠水(shui)母是(shi)水(shui)螅蟲綱(gang)為數(shu)不(bu)多的“大型”水(shui)母,其傘(san)(san)部(bu)直徑可達18厘米(mi),與(yu)其他體(ti)型通常只有(you)一(yi)兩厘米(mi)其他水(shui)螅水(shui)母相(xiang)比,簡直就是(shi)巨人。花笠水(shui)母傘(san)(san)部(bu)有(you)不(bu)規(gui)則輻射分布的黑色條紋(wen),在黑色條紋(wen)的末(mo)端都有(you)一(yi)條短觸(chu)手。
主要(yao)分(fen)布在西太平洋的(de)日本(ben)溫(wen)帶海域,南美(mei)洲東部(bu)沿(yan)海也有分(fen)布。
花笠水(shui)(shui)母(mu)有兩種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)觸(chu)(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou),一(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)是數目眾多(duo)的(de)(de)短(duan)觸(chu)(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou),大量(liang)生長于(yu)傘(san)緣(yuan),傘(san)面上(shang)也有少(shao)量(liang)短(duan)觸(chu)(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)(極少(shao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)的(de)(de)水(shui)(shui)母(mu)傘(san)上(shang)有觸(chu)(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)),短(duan)觸(chu)(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)的(de)(de)末端呈現熒光(guang)綠(lv)和熒光(guang)玫瑰紅色十分美麗,這種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)觸(chu)(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)主(zhu)(zhu)要起(qi)攀附(fu)與防(fang)御的(de)(de)作用;另(ling)一(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)觸(chu)(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)很長,只分布在(zai)傘(san)緣(yuan),數量(liang)較稀少(shao),通常(chang)卷(juan)曲成(cheng)彈簧形狀(zhuang)。這種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)長觸(chu)(chu)(chu)手(shou)(shou)的(de)(de)主(zhu)(zhu)要作用是捕食(shi)獵物。傘(san)體下(xia)部有四個粉紅色呈十字排列的(de)(de)生殖器,水(shui)(shui)母(mu)的(de)(de)嘴延伸出一(yi)個垂唇,垂唇邊上(shang)也有熒光(guang)色。
花笠水(shui)(shui)母(mu)是少數(shu)底棲的水(shui)(shui)母(mu),一生很少游動,主要用短觸手(shou)粘在(zai)海(hai)(hai)(hai)床或海(hai)(hai)(hai)藻上,用觸手(shou)在(zai)海(hai)(hai)(hai)底捕食(shi)獵物。也正因如(ru)此,水(shui)(shui)族館(guan)喂(wei)養它們成了(le)難題。對(dui)于底棲的水(shui)(shui)母(mu),一般(ban)用吸管把食(shi)物送到(dao)水(shui)(shui)母(mu)嘴邊的方法行不(bu)通(tong),水(shui)(shui)族館(guan)通(tong)常會把這種(zhong)水(shui)(shui)母(mu)放在(zai)有網子(zi)的水(shui)(shui)族箱中,使(shi)水(shui)(shui)母(mu)附著(zhu)在(zai)網上,讓其觸手(shou)通(tong)過網眼捕食(shi)。