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Removes the stingers

           

        Neutralizes the toxins

JELLYFISH

Jellyfish have stinging cells located on their tentacles and other body parts. The stinging cell consists of a capsule with a sensory hair, a lid and an interior nematocyst, (nee-MAT-o-sist) which is used to sting, capture and subdue prey. The nematocyst fires from the capsule like a harpoon when another animal's movements trigger its sensory hair. Firing in just a few milliseconds, this cellular process one of the fastest in nature.

Inhabiting all the world's oceans, a few species of Jellyfish are even found in freshwater. Jellyfish are more than 95% water and have no backbone, heart, blood, brain or gills. They feed on small, drifting animals called zooplankton - which includes other Jellyfish, juvenile fish and larval crustaceans. The bell, or body of a Jellyfish, has one or more mouths on its central oral surface. Some have frilly oral arms around the mouth. Jellyfish trap their food using tentacles that surround the bell rim and can be longer or shorter than the diameter of the Jellyfish's bell.

Relatives of sea anemones and coral, there are more than 200 different species of Jellyfish, which belong to the phylum Cnidaria (ny-DARE-ee-uh). They come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from the tiny, spherical Thimble Jellyfish of the Caribbean to the largest Jellyfish of them all, the Arctic Lion's Mane, whose tentacles may stretch over 100 feet in length.

             FAQ- Frequently asked questions about Jellyfish

How does a Jellyfish sting?

Clusters of cells along the tentacles, and other body parts have tightly coiled nematocysts, which act like mini-harpoons that fire at high speed and injects toxin into the prey.

Are Jellyfish poisonous?

All Jellyfish are poisonous to some degree, but the amount of poison varies, drastically. Some in the South Pacific islands of Palau, farm algae in their bodies for food so they don't need poison to catch prey. They also have no major predators and don't have to defend themselves, so they don't sting much at all (although they can irritate very sensitive skin). At the other extreme is the Sea Wasp of Australia that can kill a human in minutes.

How big do Jellyfish get?

The smallest are too small to see with the naked eye, and the largest can be over 6 feet in diameter and over a hundred feet long, including their tentacles.

How long do Jellyfish live?

Some are very short lived and some can live for many years.

Can a Jellyfish regenerate tentacles or other parts of its body?

Yes. If a jelly is otherwise healthy, it can regenerate tissue from small amounts of damage , such as nibbled tentacles, readily.

How do Jellyfish reproduce?

Jellyfish have male and female individuals just like humans and most other living things. The males release long strands of sperm that float in the water and are picked up by the female. The eggs are then fertilized, and the development of the larva (called a Planula) begins. It seems that the sperm is highly attracted to certain chemicals in the female egg, which increases the chance of fertilization.

Do jellyfish breathe?

Yes. Their entire surface is used to absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

How do Jellyfish swim?

They have a primary pulsing muscle within the bell and move by jet propulsion, though they are strongly influenced by currents. But they can and do swim.

How do Jellyfish see?

They have sensory organs called rhopalia, in spots along the rim of the bell; some of these detect light. They do not focus on images. The best visual tracking belongs to the box jelly which is the most dangerous and also very quick.

How do fish live in Jellyfish tentacles and not get stung?

Lots of juvenile fish are among the animals that hitchhike with Jellyfish. They have to be quick to avoid tentacle contact, but they use the mobile Jellyfish as a safe oasis in the open water. The Jellyfish, in return, is thought to be aided by the fish in capturing larger fish that are trying to eat the juvenile fish and get caught in the tentacles.

Man-of-War

Box Jellyfish

  The Sting Thing

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Sea Nettle

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