[1] It was discovered in 1903 by Otto Maas in the Malay Archipelago,[2] and is closely related to Nemopilema nomurai and Rhopilema esculentum[3] Other species in the genus Acromitus include A. hardenbergi, A. maculosus, A. rabanchatu, and A.

[4] Acromitus flagellatus have an exumbrella that is 160 ± 40 mm in diameter, with uneven black or brown spots.

Since jellyfish feed off of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton, once they swarm an area, they cause a disturbance to the food web or a trophic cascade,[4][6] consuming most of the primary and secondary producers.

[6] A. flagellatus are opportunistic feeders who will also feed on copepods and nautili, phytoplankton, ciliates, dinoflagellates, molluscan larvae, rotifers, and foraminiferans[4] Cancer researchers look at marine organisms for anti-cancer effects because the proteins of marine creatures have an ability to stop disease better than other organisms.

[10] Another study found that gold nanoparticles with the A. flagellatus nematocyst venom residue also have anti-proliferative affects on cancer cells.