Trivia: The Aquarium’s Crowd Favorite! A Quiz About Jellyfish

oral arm

The parts that look like jellyfish legs are called oral arms. Oral arms are located around the jellyfish’s mouth and are important organs used for capturing and ingesting food.

ocellus

Jellyfish generally do not have advanced visual organs, but many species possess primitive light-sensing organs called eyespots. These allow jellyfish to perceive light to the extent that they can distinguish between bright and dark areas.

Cnidaria

Jellyfish are classified in the phylum Cnidaria due to their ability to capture prey using their characteristic cnidocytes (cells that contain toxic stingers). In addition to jellyfish, the phylum Cnidaria also includes corals and hydras. The bodies of jellyfish are composed mostly of water, and they are characterized by being very soft and translucent.

1 year

The average lifespan of jellyfish varies by species, but it is generally around one year. Some jellyfish reach adulthood and die within a few days, while others—like the so-called immortal jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii—can theoretically live indefinitely. However, most jellyfish are considered short-lived within their ecosystems.

Ephyra

The moon jellyfish goes through a stage called the “ephyra” as a larva. The ephyra is born from a polyp and is an important stage on its way to becoming an adult jellyfish. This star-shaped larva was given its name because its form resembles an ethereal spirit.

Mayoi aioi jellyfish

This species has been recorded with tentacles reaching up to 36.6 meters in length. It is often found in cold oceans, particularly in the frigid waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Its body exhibits beautiful orange or pink hues, making it notable not only for its size but also for its beauty. It is listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest jellyfish in the world.

Portuguese man o’ war

The Portuguese man-of-war is also called the “electric jellyfish” because it emits a light that seems to illuminate the sea. This name is said to originate from the days when fishermen used its glow at night as a marker to catch kawakawa (also known as swallowfish).