10 AMAZING JELLYFISH FACTS THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU
Today, in this animalzooplus article, we invite you to discover ten curiosities about jellyfish that you probably did not know.
#1_ THEY HAVE BEEN EXISTING FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS
Jellyfish have existed on earth for millions of years, more precisely for 600 million years. The oldest fossils attributable to jellyfish date back to the primary era.
#2_THEY ARE MAINLY MADE UP OF
Jellyfish are animals that belong to the cnidarian family. As we know, their morphology is bell-shaped and they use it to move through the water thanks to their anatomy. Composed of 95% water, jellyfish have a number of attributes that make them curious and fascinating creatures.
#3_THE MOUTH ALSO WORKS AS ANUS
They are carnivorous animals and as such, they have a digestive system that allows them to assimilate and metabolize their prey. Jellyfish, even if they don't look like it, have a mouth, but in a somewhat unexpected place. And yes, their mouth is located in the lower part of their anatomy and is used for both ingesting food and excreting.
#4_THEY HAVE A BODY FULL OF LIGHT
Bioluminescence or the ability of certain living organisms to produce light is another curious fact about jellyfish that you may have seen in aquariums or on a beach at night. These animals transform chemical energy into light energy to defend themselves against predators, to attract prey or to woo their potential mate.
#5_THEY HAVE NO BRAIN OR BLOOD
Their bodies look like some sort of moving bag of bones. The anatomy of jellyfish consists of two thin layers of cellular tissue between which is inert, watery matter.
#6_SHE STICKS EVEN AFTER THEIR DEATH
You have already stepped on the body of a jellyfish washed up on the beach. These bodies aren't always easy to spot and they usually end up buried in the sand, making them dangerous for vacationers strolling the shore.
If you've ever accidentally stepped on a jellyfish, you know that the tentacles of a dead jellyfish always cause a stinging reaction.
#7_THEY HAVE SEVERAL TYPES OF REPRODUCTION
These animals are characterized by what is called the alternation of generations. This consists in presenting, on the one hand, asexual reproduction through the intermediary of Cécile and, on the other hand, a sexual reproduction through the intermediary of free jellyfish. Jellyfish are oviparous and lay hundreds of eggs which are incubated between the tentacles of the parent.
#8_AMONG THEM IS ONE OF THE MOST FEARED ANIMALS
the sea wasp and considered the most venomous of all jellyfish and one of the most dangerous animals in the world. It lives in Australia and its venom is designed to quickly paralyze its prey, causing severe damage that is ultimately fatal, even to humans. This is because its venom contains hundreds of different toxins.
#9_THERE IS A GIANT SIZE JELLYFISH
lion's mane jellyfish and recognized worldwide as the largest jellyfish in the world. The body of this species can measure almost four meters in diameter and its tentacles almost 40 meters long.
#10_THE SMALLEST JELLYFISH IS ONE OF THE MOST POISONOUS
Known as Medusa Eros Granger. It has a body about 35 mm in diameter and tentacles barely 1.2 cm long. It is therefore considered the smallest jellyfish in the world. However, it is known to be the second most poisonous jellyfish and it can even be deadly if not treated in time.