Aurelia sp. 3 sensu Dawson et al. (2005) is a member of the cryptic Aurelia species complex, distinguished from morphologically similar moon jellyfish lineages through molecular phylogenetic analyses. It was one of several genetically distinct Aurelia lineages resolved in a landmark study that highlighted extensive cryptic diversity within this globally distributed scyphozoan genus. Its ecology and physiology largely parallel those of Aurelia aurita sensu stricto, with pelagic medusae developing from sessile polyps via strobilation. Genomic data have been generated for this species and are available in public databases, enabling comparative studies of cnidarian evolution and ecology.