Scientific name: Aurelia aurata

See-Through Animals
Jellyfish are cup shaped animals with one opening and a rim of tentacles. They have no heart, blood, brain, ears, eyes or central nervous system and use their whole body to breathe. Their clear body (known as a bell) acts as camouflage, helping them to survive in the open ocean. Moon jellyfish are named for their perfectly round, shiny bell which reflects light, appearing as a full moon in the water. They have crescent shaped reproductive organs that are visible through their bell, adding to their moon motif.

Older Than Dinosaurs
The body of a jellyfish is 95% water. Their simple structure has helped them exist for over 650 million years – That means they out-lived the dinosaurs and existed long before sharks or life on land!

Paralysed!
Jellyfish use their tentacles to catch prey of small fish, algae, and even other jellyfish. Tiny stinging cells in the tentacles, called nematocysts, paralyze the prey before it is drawn to the mouth and digested.

Free Transport
Moon jellyfish drift around with ocean currents. This free transport works well for jellyfish, as it uses little energy and means they are always surrounded by food, as their small prey also drifts in these currents.

Smack!
A group of jellyfish is called a smack! Smacks of 1000’s of moon jellyfish can be found all along Western Australia’s coastline and in the Swan River.

Fast facts:

Size: 40cm
Diet: Plankton
Main predator: Turtles
Habitat: Oceans, coastal waters, estuaries
Found: Worldwide, in temperate and tropical waters