Posts Tagged ‘jellyfish continued’

Jellyfish is another ocean life that can sting. They have long threadlike tentacles that hang down below the part shaped like a bell. These tentacles stink worms and small ocean life and carry them into the jellyfish's mouth.

There are about 200 known types of jellyfish and about 70 of them are known to sting. The effect of a jellyfish sting can be nothing to mild causing skin irritation or can be deadly. Jellyfish stings can be very toxic.

Jellyfish anatomy

Jellyfish and their relatives, sea anemones and corals, have no head, no heart, no eyes, and no skeleton. Jellyfish have two ends, the head end and the tail end. In the head end, jellyfish have a concentration of complex nerve cells. Some call this complex network of nervous system in jellyfish, their brain. Others say jellyfish have no brain. Jellyfish are not fish; they are related to corals, sea whips, hydroids, and sea anemones.

Jellyfish have an outer layer called epidemis which covers the their external body surface and an inner layer called gastrodemis which lines jellyfish's gut. In the middle of the epidermis and gastrodermis, jellyfish have a thick elastic jelly-like layer of substance called mesoglea.

Jellyfish come in different sizes, shapes and colors. Most jellyfish are opaque (semi-transparent) or glossy and bell shaped. Some types of jellyfish are very very small. However, some are as large as 7 feet (without tentacles). Tentacles of jellyfish can be longer than 100 feet.

How does jellyfish eat?

Jellyfish have a net of tentacles that contain poisonous, stinging cells. When the tentacles come across a prey ocean life, these tiny stinging cells explode launching barbed stingers and poison into the prey ocean life. If these jellyfish come into contact with a human's leg, they do the same stinging routine.

Jellyfish Habitat

Many jellyfish live in oceans around the world and are capable of withstanding a large flux of temperatures and salinities. Many jellyfish live in shallow coaster water. However, some jellyfish live in deep ocean of 12,000 feet. Many jellyfish are washed ashore by winds and ocean waves.

Jellyfish are common in warm oceans. Jellyfish swimming in water are often hard to see because of their opaque color. Jellyfish washed onto beaches can sting if touched. Stings from jellyfish found on beaches are often not severe.