Jellyfish | Medusozoa
Jellyfish, also sometimes referred to as Sea Jellies, is the marine animal that is part of the Medusozoa subphylum and is known for its unusual body form. The Jellyfish has an umbrella-like gelatinous body with trailing tentacles that are used both to capture prey and defend itself. A Jellyfish swims by pulsating the top part of its body to propel itself through the water. The Jellyfish can be found all over the world and lives in both surface or deep waters. The lifespan of a Jellyfish depends on the species, but some have a lifespan of 12 to 18 months while others can live up to 20 years.
A group of jellyfish is called a smack. A smack is also the term used to describe a slap or blow that is given by the hand either usually as a reaction. The term smack is used for a group of jellyfish as it describes what it feels like when someone is among jellyfish.
Jellyfish usually eat whatever food they find as they swim through water and can fit in their mouth which includes shrimp, krill, and small fish. As a result of this process, jellyfish are considered ‘passive’ feeders since they are not actively hunting or looking for food.
Jellyfish reproduce in 2 different ways depending on their current body form since they embody 2 different body forms throughout their lifespan, the medusa and polyps. Polyps can reproduce through asexual budding and the medusa body form reproduces through spawn eggs and sperm to reproduce sexually.
