Sea Jellies
CLASS SCYPHOZOA
SPECIES OF Sea Jellies
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ANATOMY OF Sea Jellies
OVERVIEW
Although sea jellies are also known as jellyfish, they aren’t actually fish! These simple, soft-bodied animals belong to the class Scyphozoa, which means “drinking cup animal” in Greek due to their cup-like body shape.
LIKE AN UPSIDE DOWN SEA ANEMONE!
As their scientific name suggests, sea jellies look like upside-down cups, bowls or bells! They have long, stringy tentacles along the outer edge of their bell, and thicker arms on the underside. The mouth of a sea jelly is located at the centre of the underside of its bell.
EMPTY INSIDE!
Sea jellies have no organs! This means they don’t have a heart, gills, or even a brain! Despite this, they can get by just fine!
DO NOT TOUCH SEA JELLIES!
Sea jellies use their stinging tentacles and arms to capture prey and defend themselves against predators. Sea jelly tentacles and arms can still sting you even when they are dead! So, please do not touch sea jellies, dead or alive!