Jellyfish are the oldest living creatures on our planet. They are amazing and unusual, and therefore cause enthusiastic looks. They live in every sea, ocean - on the surface of the water or at a depth of many kilometers.
It’s better for a person not to encounter some types of jellyfish - for example, an “Australian wasp” can kill up to 60 people with its own poison. This is the most poisonous and dangerous animal in the oceans. The jellyfish got its name because of its resemblance to a mythological character (or rather, with its head) - the gorgon of Medusa. If you open one of the pictures to look at it, pay attention - instead of hair on her head, moving snakes. The similarity was noticed by Karl Linney, a Swedish natural scientist (1707-1778.)
You can admire them endlessly ... But let's not only admire their beauty with you, but also learn about the 10 most interesting facts about jellyfish. So, let's get started?
10. Appeared on the planet about 650 million years ago
Jellyfish is a long-liver. They have always been, are and will be. These creatures appeared 650 million years ago.. Without them, not a single ocean appears. Some species of jellyfish live in fresh water. About 3,000 species are known, but most of them have not yet been studied.
Getting to the jellyfish is not so easy, because some representatives live very deep in the water - deeper than 10,000 meters. Some compare these centenarians with fish, but they have nothing in common except their habitat. For most clusters of jellyfish, there is a definition - they are called a swarm (which means a cluster).
9. They live in all the seas and oceans of the Earth
Unbelievably beautiful and diverse creatures live in the seas and oceans, one of which is jellyfish. The underwater world is little studied, so meeting with various creatures can turn into a catastrophe for a person.
If you ask someone: "What do you think is the most dangerous inhabitant of the underwater world?", Then, for sure, all in one voice will answer: "Shark", however, there are more dangerous creatures ...
Every year, millions of people are “burned” when interacting with jellyfish. In the Russian seas there are no particularly dangerous jellyfish, but the main thing is to prevent contact with the mucous membranes. Jellyfish live in all the oceans of the Earth and in almost all seasTherefore, before traveling, you must know in advance which species are common in this place.
8. Live in fresh water
It is known that jellyfish can live only in water. If they are washed ashore, death will come from drying out under the sun. There is a species that feels great in fresh water - it is called Craspedacusta sowerbyi. Such a jellyfish can be kept in a home aquarium, however, it requires a certain feed and compliance with the conditions.
Freshwater jellyfish lives in almost all continents (with the exception of Antarctica) in river creeks with a leisurely course and in stagnant water bodies. Also favorably Craspedacusta sowerbyi lives in artificial ponds.
7. Four main classes of jellyfish
In nature, many types of jellyfish are known, and despite the primitive nature of the structure, they are all very diverse. There are four main classes of jellyfish: it is scyphoid, hydroid, cubomedusa and staurozoa. Let's look at these types in more detail.
Scyphoid: this class includes jellyfish that inhabit the seas and oceans. They live in salt water and freely move among the underwater world (with the exception of the sitting jellyfish - it is inactive).
Hydroid: this species differs from the others in its amazing ability - the jellyfish can live forever, since the hydroid is regenerated from an adult to a child's organism. They include more than 2.5 thousand species.
Cubomedusa: this species can be called the most dangerous (has the name "sea wasp"). If a person meets her, then he expects death. During the Second World War, it was this jellyfish that became the scourge of sailors who found themselves in the water. Each year, about 80 people die from jellyfish poison.
Staurozoa: representatives of stavromeduz are not able to swim and lead a bottom lifestyle. Their shape is quite peculiar, outwardly resembles a certain funnel. Her movements are slow, and most of the time the jellyfish prefers to sit in one place. Stavromedusa is considered as an unusual organism, combining the signs of a polyp and jellyfish.
6. Used in medicine and food
Jellyfish are a delicacy in eastern countries. In Japan, Korea, China, these underwater creatures have been eating since ancient times, calling them "crystal meat", moreover, these dishes were refined and delicacies.
It is also known that jellyfish were part of the diet of the ancient Romans. In jellyfish meat contains a lot of nutrients, amino acids and trace elements.
In addition, jellyfish are used in medicine.. Chinese doctors advise eating gray jellyfish (of course, processed) every day for those who suffer from infertility. Moreover, Chinese women confirm the effectiveness of this method. Interestingly, a remedy is also being prepared from jellyfish to help get rid of baldness.
Interesting fact: if in China and South Korea the menu of the fish restaurant does not contain jellyfish dishes, then the institution cannot get the highest category.
5. Jellyfish - one of the simplest animals in the world
Jellyfish are amazing creatures. They cause conflicting feelings: delight, admiration and even fear. The oldest animals of our planet belong to the simplest intestinal organisms.. Jellyfish have neither a brain nor sense organs. But they are endowed with a nervous system that helps them detect odors and light. Jellyfish also use it to detect the touch of another organism.
There are only 8 separate accumulations of nerve cells in jellyfish - they are located on the edge of the jellyfish umbrella. Her nerve clusters are called ganglia.
4. Almost 98% water
This fact may be surprising, but jellyfish are 98% water. When the jellyfish dries up - only a trace remains in the sand from it, there is not even a shell. Among marine animals, not only the jellyfish has a jelly-like body, for example, sea anemones, hydra, polyps, corals - also do not have a solid skeleton and everyone lives in sea water.
Despite the fact that jellyfish is 98% water, it causes painful burns.
3. Turitopsis nutricula - an immortal living creature
What is the secret of youth of Turritopsis nutricula? This jellyfish is the only creature that can live forever. Reaching maturity, she again turns into a young individual. It is noteworthy that this cycle repeats endlessly ... The only thing that can cause Turritopsis nutricula to die is to be killed.
Note that biologists also know "immortal" cells, which under favorable conditions are able to divide countless times. These include, for example, stem cells.
2. Sea wasp - the most dangerous creature on the planet
A bite of a sea wasp (cubomedusa) can be fatal. This is one of the most dangerous inhabitants of the underwater world.. Sea wasp can be identified by the size of the bell - 2.5 meters. She has a transparent shell, she has a beautiful look. It lives in the Pacific region of India, as well as on the coasts of the Australian continent.
With their tentacles, sea wasps annually kill hundreds of people, but a jellyfish does not sting when it does not feel danger.
1. The Arctic giant jellyfish - the largest in the world
Arctic jellyfish - considered the largest in the world. It lives in the Northwest Atlantic. Its giant dome can reach 2 meters, and translucent tentacles grow up to 20 meters in length. It has a different color, but usually light orange (with age, the color becomes more saturated).
Her body is 95% liquid and in shape it resembles a mushroom. Numerous jellyfish tentacles can extend up to 20 meters.
Interesting fact: The Arctic giant jellyfish appears in Arthur Conan Doyle’s short story “The Lion's Mane”.