Wild Wednesday – Moon jellyfish | Latest news

The moon jelly, scientific name, Aurelia aurita is the most common jellyfish found in British coasts or harbours and you may have seen one washed up on the beach.

The moon jelly differs from many jellyfish in that they lack the long, potent stinging tentacles, but instead they have hundreds of short, fine tentacles, which surround the bell. If you see one washed up on the beach and you happened to get stung, it will only cause a mild reaction, if anything at all.

Around the size of a dinner plate, easily identified by the half-circles in the middle of its translucent white bell, which are reproductive tissues. An almost clear body takes up the colour of whatever it has just eaten. Food items can be seen in its stomach, a flower shaped organ in the bell. They eat very small zooplankton, mollusc larvae, crustaceans and tiny fish.

The life cycle of this jellyfish has been studied extensively by scientists and they live for about 8 to 12 months. To reproduce, the adult male releases strands of sperm, which are ingested by the female moon jellies. After fertilization, females brood the larvae on their oral arms, and it then releases and settles on the seabed and will grow into polyps.

Birds, Fish and Sea turtles are Common predators of this jellyfish include birds and fish and sea turtles.

Read more here: Moon jellyfish | The Wildlife Trusts