JELLYFISHJELLYFISH

No bones. No brains. But what a No bones. No brains. But what a sting! sting!

FACTS ON JELLYFISHFACTS ON JELLYFISH

Belong to the Phylum Belong to the Phylum “Cnidaria”“Cnidaria”

Radial SymmetryRadial Symmetry Medusa shapeMedusa shape Fertilize externallyFertilize externally

-sperm & egg -sperm & egg released in waterreleased in water

2 Layers2 Layers

-epidermis -outer-epidermis -outer

- gastrodermis -inner- gastrodermis -inner

mesoglea -jelly between mesoglea -jelly between the layersthe layers

Stinging cells calledStinging cells called

“ “ cnidocytes”.cnidocytes”.

HabitatHabitat

Jellyfish are found in Jellyfish are found in every ocean. They every ocean. They live in both deep and live in both deep and shallow coastal shallow coastal waters. waters.

FeedingFeeding

Jellyfish eat tiny plankton, Jellyfish eat tiny plankton, invertebrates, larvae, and invertebrates, larvae, and small fish. Jellyfish have small fish. Jellyfish have sensors in their tentacles sensors in their tentacles that can detect movement that can detect movement around them. When around them. When movement is detected, movement is detected, stingers shoot out and stingers shoot out and paralyze the prey. The paralyze the prey. The jellyfish then uses its jellyfish then uses its tentacles to bring the prey tentacles to bring the prey to its mouth and ingest it. to its mouth and ingest it.

MovementMovement

Jellyfish usually drift or move gracefully Jellyfish usually drift or move gracefully through the ocean, occasionally you will through the ocean, occasionally you will see them swimming. Jellyfish swim by see them swimming. Jellyfish swim by pulsations of their umbrella or bell shape. pulsations of their umbrella or bell shape. It is coordinated by a very simple nervous It is coordinated by a very simple nervous system.system.

AppearanceAppearance

Jellyfish often appear Jellyfish often appear clear or pale blue color. clear or pale blue color. But they can also be But they can also be yellow, deep blue, bright yellow, deep blue, bright purple, pale lilac, bright purple, pale lilac, bright orange, deep red. orange, deep red.

When they are disturbed When they are disturbed at night, they give off a at night, they give off a cold bright light called cold bright light called luminescence. luminescence.

More FactsMore Facts

Made up of 95% water Made up of 95% water more than 200 species of more than 200 species of

jellyfishjellyfish Jellyfish have a short Jellyfish have a short

lifespan, the longest lifespan, the longest surviving species living surviving species living only two to six months only two to six months

ocean sunfish and ocean sunfish and leatherback turtles are leatherback turtles are two of the jellyfish two of the jellyfish predators predators

LIFE CYCLELIFE CYCLE