Jellyfish, one of the most beautiful yet universally feared organisms by human beings, belongs to Kingdom Animalia and is part of the phylum Cnidaria. These amazing creatures are not feared for their dome-shaped umbrella like heads called the bell or their alarming colors. These radially symmetrical creatures are feared for their venom-filled nematocysts tentacles that range in size and length. For most jellyfish, their tentacles are accompanied by frilly arms that hang from the mouth. These frilly arms, after prey have been paralyzed by the tentacles, are used to pull the prey toward the mouth for consumption. Jellyfish are carnivorous hunters that feed on mostly zooplankton, small fishes, and get this, other jellyfish. As complex and interesting as the jellyfish may seem, it only requires a small portion of food to sustain their gelatinous, transparent bell and simple body plan. Jellyfish can reside in a variety of different climates from deep depths of the ocean to the cold poles to the heat of the tropics. With this adaptive ability but not the only one, the jellyfish was able to branch off into many different types of jellyfish.

 

Jellyfish come in many shapes, sizes and colors and some are more dangerous than others. For example, the moon jellyfish have a fairly weak sting while the box jellyfish is not so friendly and may just take your life if stung. The venom of a box jellyfish is classified as one of the most dangerous in the world which is why it would be extremely difficult for its prey to survive an attack. Unlike other jellyfish that have simple nerve nets and light and gravity sensitive cells on the edge of the bell, box jellies have something much different. Instead of sensitive cells, the box jellyfish has a cluster of six eyes which scientist believe are used to avoid large objects and see prey. The box jellyfish can grow to the size of a basketball with up to sixty bunched venom-filled tentacles(15 ft) ready to strike its next victim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jellyfish as graceful and slow moving as they may seem, are actually strong swimmers which is bad news for its prey. Some jellyfish actually have the ability to pulse their bodies forward giving them the thrust they need to push themselves along. With their long flowing tentacles, they can swim their way to prey and to potential mates. The box jellyfish is a natural charmer for he dances for the ladies but other jellyfish are a little bit more realistic because they only live for about a year; time is of the essence! The male jellyfish release their sperm into the water and is fertilized by the discharge by the female.  After fertilization, the eggs develop into larvae and continue their journey to the seafloor where they will grow into beautiful jellyfish. The journey is not always successful however because in order for the egg to develop the conditions must be just right to begin the growing process. Now, it may seem as though the jellyfish is the biggest and baddest Cnidarians out there and that may be true but there is also a fearless shelled creature that will take on and eat the jellyfish, the famous turtle.

 

Why they Matter?

 

Jellyfish unfortunately, as beautiful as they are, make for a popular delicacy human being mostly in Asia. Jellyfish in Asia are either served dried or boiled to remove the salt. Jellyfish contain a lot of caclium binding proteins that improves memory and can possibly make one live longer. Jellyfish along with this, plays a huge role in biotechnology. The luminescence that they produce or the green fluorescent protein gene in crystal jellyfish in particular is used as a biomarker to identify the activation of genes. It also used to track diseases in organisms that scientist can easily find and cure. Jellyfish are also kept as pets and are viewed in museums where people can bask in their beauty and complexity.