Animals A-Z

Type of Animal: Invertebrate
Habitat: Coastal waters in temperate and tropical regions worldwide, particularly in bays, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Prefers calm, warm waters but can tolerate a wide variety of salinity levels and temperatures.
Diet: Carnivorous; primarily feeds on plankton, small crustaceans, molluscs, and fish larvae, using stinging tentacles to paralyse prey.
Size: The bell can reach up to 40 cm (16 inches) in diameter.
Lifespan: Typically 6-12 months in the wild, though they may live slightly longer in captivity under optimal conditions.

• Mild Sting: Unlike some of its more dangerous relatives, the moon jelly’s sting is mild and generally harmless to humans. Their stinging cells, or nematocysts, are used primarily to capture small planktonic prey.
• Simple Yet Adaptable: Moon jellies lack complex organs like a brain or heart. Instead, they rely on a simple nerve net to respond to stimuli and diffuse oxygen through their thin bodies for respiration. This simplicity makes them highly adaptable to various environmental conditions.
• Masters of Reproduction: Moon jellies have a fascinating two-phase lifecycle, alternating between asexual reproduction during their polyp stage and sexual reproduction in their medusa stage. In the polyp stage, they can clone themselves by budding, creating new individuals without mating.
• Survival Experts: Moon jellies are incredibly resilient and can survive in low-oxygen environments where other marine creatures struggle. This adaptability helps them thrive in regions where water quality may be compromised.
• Glowing Illusion: While moon jellies aren’t bioluminescent, their translucent bodies can create a glowing illusion, especially when illuminated by certain lighting or surrounded by bioluminescent plankton in the water, making them an enchanting sight in the ocean.