[2][3][4] It was discovered in the estuarine waters of the River Derwent near to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's Marine and Atmospheric Research branch in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

[3] C. medeopolis has been described as presenting a new family and genus as well as species.

[3][4][5] Its binomial name is derived from "CSIRO jellyfish" and "city of gonads".

[3][4] Unlike most other jellyfish, males and females of C. medeopolis have many gonads located on their dorsal endoderm.

These gonads have been described as arranged like "skyscrapers in a downtown business district".