Curious marine animal in the shape of an umbrella

The jellyfish is a type of marine animal that is fascinating for its unusual appearance. It has a body of gelatinous consistency, in the shape of a bell or umbrella, from which hangs a tubular structure that carries the mouth in the lower part. They can also have long extensions or tentacles.

Almost all jellyfish are found in the sea, but there are species that live exclusively in freshwater or lakes. They usually just float on water and are carried away by currents and wind, but some use a propulsion system to help propel them forward.

Fun facts

• Jellyfish can be toxic to varying degrees. Contact with the tentacles of a jellyfish can cause a variety of reactions, it can be: no effect, unpleasant sensation, or extreme pain.
• Some jellyfish glow and use this feature to warn of their toxicity.
• Your body is made up almost entirely of water (95%). If removed from the aquatic environment, they collapse and die.
• It has three different layers: an external one, an intermediate one and an internal one. They do not have bones or shells to protect them.
• They are animals of radial symmetry, that is, they do not have a left half and a right half. They have an oral side (where the mouth is) and an aboral side (opposite the oral side).
• They have a very simple network of neurons, but they don’t have a brain.
• The eyes differentiate light from darkness and have sensory cavities to detect the presence of prey.
• The digestive system is simple, with a single opening through which food enters and waste is expelled. They digest in a sac or cavity that not only serves as a stomach but also as an intestine.
• In order to move, jellyfish ingest water inside the bell and then squirt it out. So they can propel themselves forward.