Did you know?
Jellyfish
by
Sophie Walker
Hello! My name is Honu. I am a sea turtle, and I live in the big, blue ocean. Today, I want to show you my friends. They are very beautiful and very strange. They are jellyfish! Are you ready to learn? Let’s go!
Did you know? Jellyfish are not actually fish! They are made of 95 percent water. They are very simple animals. They do not have a brain to think, a heart to pump blood, or even bones to hold them up. They just float.
Look at how Aurelia moves. She does not swim like a fish. She pushes water out of her body to move forward. It looks like an umbrella opening and closing. This is how she “pulses” through the sea. It looks like a slow, quiet dance.
Be careful! Most jellyfish have tentacles. These tentacles have tiny stingers. When a small creature touches them — ZAP! The jellyfish catches its dinner. Aurelia uses her stingers to hunt, but she also uses them to stay safe from bigger animals.
What do jellyfish eat? They like to eat tiny plants, shrimp, and even other jellyfish! Their mouth is in the middle of their body. They use their arms to pull the food up to their mouth. It is a very busy day for a hungry jellyfish.
Jellyfish come in many different sizes. Some are as small as a fingernail. But look at this one! This is a Lion’s Mane jellyfish. It is one of the biggest in the world. Its tentacles can be longer than a blue whale!
Did you know that some jellyfish can glow? This is called bioluminescence. In the deep, dark parts of the ocean, they make their own light. They look like colorful lanterns floating in the dark. It is a beautiful sight to see.
This is the most amazing secret of all. One special jellyfish is called the “Immortal Jellyfish.” When it gets old or hurt, it can turn back into a baby! It starts its life over again and again. It can live forever!
Jellyfish usually like to travel together. A group of jellyfish is not called a school like fish. It is called a “smack” or a “bloom.” When there are thousands of them together, the ocean looks like it is full of clouds.
The ocean is a wonderful place full of surprises. Jellyfish have lived in the sea for millions of years — even before the dinosaurs! Thank you for learning with me today. Remember to keep exploring and asking, “Did you know?”
