Dive Into These Facts About Jellyfish [Free Fact Cards]

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Dive into the mesmerizing world of jellyfish with these intriguing facts about jellyfish. Discover their unique characteristics, vibrant colors, and fascinating behavior.

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Jellyfish are amazing creatures that live in the ocean. They come in all sorts of colors and shapes, like transparent, pink, or even glowing in the dark! What’s really cool about them is that they don’t have bones or a brain. Instead, they have a soft, jelly-like body and a simple kind of nerve net that helps them sense things in the water.

Jellyfish move through the water by gently pulsing their bodies up and down, which helps them swim. But watch out, because some jellyfish can sting! They have special tentacles with tiny harpoon-like stingers to catch their food, like tiny fish and plankton. If you ever see a jellyfish at the beach, it’s best to admire them from a distance to avoid their stingers.

Did you know that jellyfish have been around for a very, very long time? They’ve been swimming in the oceans for over 500 million years, which means they were here even before dinosaurs! So, next time you’re at the beach and spot a jellyfish, remember how fascinating and ancient these creatures are.

Be sure to make a cute jellyfish papercraft while learning new facts. You can even write facts on the back to help you remember all these interesting facts about jellyfish.

Facts About Jellyfish

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  1. Jellyfish are 95% water.
  2. Some jellyfish species can weigh up to 440 pounds (200 kg).
  3. The umbrella-shaped body of a jellyfish is called a bell.
  4. Jellyfish have been around for millions of years, even before dinosaurs lived on the Earth. 
  5. They don’t have brains, hearts, or lungs.
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  1. Some jellyfish are clear, but others are vibrant colors of pink, yellow, blue and purple.
  2. Jellyfish are a type of ‘cnidarian’, which is named after the Greek word for “sea nettle”.
  3. Some species of jellyfish are able to survive in low oxygen environments, such as hypoxic zones in the ocean.
  4. Jellyfish are often preyed upon by sea turtles, sunfish, and some species of birds.
  5. The oldest known jellyfish fossil is called Eoredlichia and is estimated to be around 500 million years old.
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  1. They can be bioluminescent, too, which means they produce their own light!
  2. The venom of different jellyfish species can range from mild to extremely potent and can cause a variety of symptoms in humans, including pain, swelling, and even death in some cases.
  3. Some jellyfish blooms can be harmful to humans and other marine life, causing large fish kills or even closing down beaches.
  4. Jellyfish have hydrostatic skeletons.
  5. In China, they are considered a delicacy, and are also used in Chinese medicine.
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  1. They are invertebrates and have no backbone.
  2. Jellyfish are more closely related to corals and sea anemones than they are to fish.
  3. Jellyfish are able to release both eggs and sperm into the water, where fertilization occurs.
  4. Jellyfish are able to clone themselves by producing genetically identical offspring through asexual reproduction.
  5. Each box jellyfish reportedly carries enough venom to kill more than 60 humans.
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  1. They have very short lifespans.
  2. There could be 300,000 species of jellyfish.
  3. Jellyfish range from a few centimeters to over two metres in size.
  4. One species may be immortal.
  5. Jellyfish are capable of swimming against the current and can move at speeds of up to 8 miles per hour.
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  1. Some jellyfish can turn back their biological clock.
  2. In their ecosystem, jellyfish are effective predators.
  3. Box jellyfish are highly advanced.
  4. They’re Adapting Well to Climate Change
  5. Some jellyfish trap their prey, while others trawl.
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  1. They Aren’t Really Fish.
  2. They are also able to move vertically in the water column, using their bell to propel themselves up and down.
  3. Despite their simple body design, some jellyfish have vision.
  4. They Eat Where They Poop.
  5. They Rarely Travel in Groups.
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  1. All jellyfish have nematocysts, or stinging structures, but the power of their stings can vary widely depending on the species. 
  2. The most venomous jellyfish in the world is probably the box jellyfish, capable of killing an adult human in just a few minutes with a single sting.
  3. The smallest are those in the genera Staurocladia and Eleutheria, which have bell disks from just 0.5 millimeters to a few millimeters in diameter. 
  4. They’ve got a lot of nerve.
  5. They are also an important source of food for many marine animals, including sea turtles, sunfish, and some species of birds.
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  1. Some jellyfish are able to swim continuously without stopping, while others pulse their bell in a more rhythmic manner.
  2. Some species of jellyfish are able to enter a dormant state called diapause, where they can survive for extended periods of time without food or water.
  3. The moon jellyfish is one of the most common jellyfish species found in coastal waters.
  4. They’re Named After a Greek Monster
  5. The word jellyfish has been used since 1976. It is usually applied to medusae and all similar animals including the comb jellies.
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  1. Jellyfish can feel.
  2. Jellyfish sting thousands of swimmers every year.
  3. Jellyfish sleep.
  4. Vinegar and salt may help lessen the severity of a jellyfish sting.
  5. Jellyfish don’t sting out of spite.
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  1. A group of jellyfish is called a “smack.”
  2. Some jellyfish perform a “mating dance.”
  3. Jellyfish do not intentionally attack humans, they only attack if they are touched.
  4. Moon jellyfish have a translucent bell and short, frilly tentacles.
  5. A large quantity of jellyfish can tear fishing nets.
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  1. Jellyfish eat almost anything in the water.
  2. Jellyfish have thousands of stinging cells.
  3. Crystal jellyfish is totally colorless.
  4. Lion’s mane jellyfish is one of the biggest known types.
  5. The bioluminescence of jellyfish is used for communication, camouflage, and attracting prey.
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  1. Cnidocytes contain a harpoon-like structure called a nematocyst, which can be fired to deliver a venomous sting.
  2. Females then release fertilized eggs into the water, which develop into tiny larvae.
  3. Turritopsis dohrnii is an immortal jellyfish.
  4. Jellyfish have just one opening for eating and pooping.
  5. Jellyfish lifespan varies.
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  1. Even without eyes, jellies can still sense their environment.
  2. Box jellyfish have 24 eyes.
  3. The lion’s mane jellyfish is the largest jellyfish species in the world, with some individuals reaching a diameter of over 2 meters.
  4. Jellyfish can shut down nuclear power plants.
  5. Dead jellyfish can still sting.
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  1. Jellyfish have high nutritional content.
  2. Jellyfish have a short lifespan, typically living only a few months to a year.
  3. The bell of a jellyfish is made up of a soft, jelly-like substance called mesoglea.
  4. Moon jellyfish have a mild sting and are not harmful to humans.
  5. The lion’s mane jellyfish has long, flowing tentacles and can be found in the waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
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  1. Jellyfish extract is sometimes used in skincare products for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.
  2. Stygiomedusa is a rarely seen jellyfish species.
  3. Jellyfish wiped out a salmon farm in Northern Ireland.
  4. Jellyfish blooms can consist of thousands or even millions of individuals and can have a significant impact on marine ecosystems.
  5. Jellyfish kill more humans than sharks.
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  1. Jellyfish shoot its sting as fast as 700 nanoseconds.
  2. Jellyfish are important in medical research, as they have a simple nervous system and can be used to study basic biological processes.
  3. Box jellyfish are found in the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and can be deadly to humans.
  4. Some species of jellyfish are able to regenerate their entire body from a small piece of their original body.
  5. The movement of jellyfish can be influenced by ocean currents and winds.
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Are you looking for more fun and engaging facts to share with your family? Check out these other posts for more facts!

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