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30 August 2006

A little jellyfish story

by Roger, onboard the Rainbow Warrior in the Mediterranean sea.


Investigating a jellyfish
©Greenpeace/Roger Grace
In recent weeks from the Rainbow Warrior we have seen a lot of jellyfish, particularly a big brown one as in the pictures. Some jellyfish sting humans, but this one seems harmless. I touched the mass of tentacles and felt nothing. Often there are little fish sheltering beneath the jellyfish.

Some jellyfish have long tentacles with powerful stinging cells to catch fish for food, but this one appears to feed in a different way. It probably has microscopic algae living in the jelly mass, just like tropical corals have tiny algae living in their tissues. The algae photosynthesise just like plants on land, and produce various sugars which the corals, or in this case jellyfish, can use as food.


Closeup of jellyfish and friends
©Greenpeace/Roger Grace
So the jellyfish carries its own "supermarket" with it wherever it goes! Rather clever really. And they never need to try to eat - it is all automatic! As long as the jellyfish keeps pulsing the bell and swimming to stay close to the surface where there is plenty of light for the algae, everything ticks along nicely thankyou.

   

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Comments

Hi Roger, this is Antora working for the Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh Project. I have been known that you know well about the different species of the Sea. Would you please send me the list of scientific names of some jelly fishes found in the Bay of Bengal.

Posted by: Antora at September 26, 2006 6:25 AM

Avast ye land lubbers! The ocean critters need your help!
Take action today!