Types of Jellyfish / Species
There are more than 1,500 different Jellyfish species that have been identified. Experts believe that there are still plenty of unknown species that live deeper down on the ocean waters.
Box Jellyfish- One of the most Deadliest Stinger in the World
The infamous box jellyfish developed its frighteningly powerful venom
to instantly stun or kill prey, like fish and shrimp, so their struggle to
escape wouldn’t damage its delicate tentacles.
Their venom is considered to be among the most deadly in the world, containing toxins that attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. It is so overpoweringly painful, human victims have been known to go into shock and drown or die of heart failure before even reaching shore. Survivors can experience considerable pain for weeks and often have significant scarring where the tentacles made contact.
Box jellies, also called sea wasps and marine stingers, live primarily in coastal waters off Northern Australia and throughout the Indo-Pacific. They are pale blue and transparent in color and get their name from the cube-like shape of their bell.
Up to 15 tentacles grow from each corner of the bell and can reach 10 feet (3 meters) in length. Each tentacle has about 5,000 stinging cells, which are triggered not by touch but by the presence of a chemical on the outer layer of its prey.
Box jellies are highly advanced among jellyfish. They have developed the ability to move rather than just drift, jetting at up to four knots through the water. They also have eyes grouped in clusters of six on the four sides of their bell. Each cluster includes a pair of eyes with a sophisticated lens, retina, iris and cornea, although without a central nervous system, scientists aren’t sure how they process what they see.
Lion's Mane Jellyfish -The largest among all Jellyfish
The lion's mane jellyfish found in the north Atlantic, has a bell which can reach six feet (two meters) in diameter with tentacles as long as 100 feet (33 meters). The Lion’s Mane Jellyfish is the largest of all Jellyfish. They can be more than 120 feet long. Its sting is said to be as toxic as a cobra's bite.
Aequorea Victoria
The Aequorea Victoria Jellyfish is colorless and virtually transparent. It has a very large and contractile mouth and strong tentacles. The bell offers more than 150 tentacles of varying sizes. This is where the toxin is located that they use to immobilize their prey. The tentacles are sticky so that they can capture the prey with ease.
They can vary in size depending on the location where they are found. They typically are larger than 3 centimeters wide. They have a bell design that allows them to move around easier in the ocean waters than other species of Jellyfish.
Victoria Distribution:
The Western coast of North America is where you will find the Aequorea Victoria Jellyfish. They are found from the Bearing Sea all the way to Southern California. They are frequently found swimming around the shoreline. However, they can also be further out due to the wind and the water current.
Aequorea Victoria Behavior:
The Aequorea Victoria Jellyfish has more control over its movements in the water than many other species. However, it often found allowing the wind and the water currents to move it along in the habitat. It will only exert energy to control its movements if there is a risk of a predator or if there is a lack of food that they are getting.
The Aequorea Victoria Jellyfish does sting humans but they don’t cause any real pain. In fact, many individuals don’t even realize that they have been stung by one when they are in the water. It isn’t until they get to shore and see the redness on their body or have an itchiness that they realize anything has occurred.
They can vary in size depending on the location where they are found. They typically are larger than 3 centimeters wide. They have a bell design that allows them to move around easier in the ocean waters than other species of Jellyfish.
Victoria Distribution:
The Western coast of North America is where you will find the Aequorea Victoria Jellyfish. They are found from the Bearing Sea all the way to Southern California. They are frequently found swimming around the shoreline. However, they can also be further out due to the wind and the water current.
Aequorea Victoria Behavior:
The Aequorea Victoria Jellyfish has more control over its movements in the water than many other species. However, it often found allowing the wind and the water currents to move it along in the habitat. It will only exert energy to control its movements if there is a risk of a predator or if there is a lack of food that they are getting.
The Aequorea Victoria Jellyfish does sting humans but they don’t cause any real pain. In fact, many individuals don’t even realize that they have been stung by one when they are in the water. It isn’t until they get to shore and see the redness on their body or have an itchiness that they realize anything has occurred.
Moon Jellyfish
The Moon Jellyfish offers several subspecies. It is really impossible though to tell them apart without taking samples of their DNA. They look too much alike in terms of their physical appearance, however, they have no sexual reproduction organs that determine this. Again, it is determined by their DNA profiling.
Moon Jellyfish Behavior:
The Moon Jellyfish has a very limited ability to move where it would like to. The current of the water and the wind is what takes it from one location to the next. They don’t use their body energy often to be able to try to swim around. This is why they tend to like water that has currents that are constant. They spend most of their life just drifting around in the ocean waters.
A sting from a Moon Jellyfish may hurt but it won’t be fatal. Typically there is pain and a small rash that is red and swollen will result. However, many people don’t even know that they have been stung by one due to the fact that they don’t penetrate well through skin. People that have thicker skin aren’t going to feel the Moon Jellyfish like a child or someone with thinner skin would.
Moon Jellyfish Behavior:
The Moon Jellyfish has a very limited ability to move where it would like to. The current of the water and the wind is what takes it from one location to the next. They don’t use their body energy often to be able to try to swim around. This is why they tend to like water that has currents that are constant. They spend most of their life just drifting around in the ocean waters.
A sting from a Moon Jellyfish may hurt but it won’t be fatal. Typically there is pain and a small rash that is red and swollen will result. However, many people don’t even know that they have been stung by one due to the fact that they don’t penetrate well through skin. People that have thicker skin aren’t going to feel the Moon Jellyfish like a child or someone with thinner skin would.
Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle
They often have riders on their bodies. They offer a place small living organisms to be able to move around.The Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle Jellyfish is very interesting. They often have riders on their bodies. They offer a place for living organisms to be able to move around. Sometimes they will only be a host but at other times they will also be a food source.
Pacific Sea Nettle Characteristics:
There is a reddish tint on the bell of the Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle which can span over 3 feet. This is a distinctive characteristic along with maroon tentacles that identify this particular species of Jellyfish. The tentacles can be up to 15 feet long.
It is believed that the Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle is able to identify changes in light around them. This can help them to find
threats or to locate food resources.
Pacific Sea Nettle Behavior:
The Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle is very popular in captivity due to their survival in such conditions. People love to come see them due to their bright colors. As sting from this particular species of Jellyfish isn’t believed to be very painful at all. In fact, many people develop a rash but they didn’t feel anything when they got stung.
The Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle has the ability to control their movements in the water more than most species of Jellyfish can. As a result they have more opportunity to get away from predators, to find prey, and to find the environment they wish to reside in.
Pacific Sea Nettle Characteristics:
There is a reddish tint on the bell of the Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle which can span over 3 feet. This is a distinctive characteristic along with maroon tentacles that identify this particular species of Jellyfish. The tentacles can be up to 15 feet long.
It is believed that the Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle is able to identify changes in light around them. This can help them to find
threats or to locate food resources.
Pacific Sea Nettle Behavior:
The Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle is very popular in captivity due to their survival in such conditions. People love to come see them due to their bright colors. As sting from this particular species of Jellyfish isn’t believed to be very painful at all. In fact, many people develop a rash but they didn’t feel anything when they got stung.
The Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle has the ability to control their movements in the water more than most species of Jellyfish can. As a result they have more opportunity to get away from predators, to find prey, and to find the environment they wish to reside in.