Jellyfish are small transparent oval-like simple invertebrates of the sea.
Jellyfish 101
These creatures have lived for millions of years. Their full lives are spent in marine environments. What's more is that these creatures are actually 95% water in nature.
Jellyfish have tentacles that they use to hunt prey. These tentacles are known to have remarkable stinging capacities, which are also a defense mechanism for the creature.
These marine invertebrates do not have a heart, blood, bones, a brain, or other organs inside of them. Interestingly, there are only three layers to them, namely the epidermis, the mesoglea, and the gastrodermis.
Their body also has an opening that works as their anus and mouth. Through this opening, jellyfish consume prey and also dispose of their waste.
Predators of Jellyfish
While these jellyfish have all these remarkable features, there are other creatures that feed on jellyfish on a daily basis. These include ocean sunfish, gray triggerfish, turtles, seabirds, whale sharks, whales, and crabs. However, jellyfish's main predators are usually other species of jellyfish.
Ocean Sunfish
Ocean sunfish dwell in temperate and tropical oceans. They are considered the heaviest known bony fish, with the capacity to stretch up to 10 feet long and weigh 5,000 pounds.
While ocean sunfish consume different foods, jellyfish are a favorite of theirs. As jellyfish are mostly water and consist of low calories and nutrients, massive fish like sunfish eat a lot of jellyfish in order to help them with their weight. Ocean sunfish keep on hunting for these marine invertebrates.
Gray Triggerfish
Gray triggerfish dwell in lagoons, reefs, and areas with shallow water across the western Atlantic Ocean. These creatures use their powerful mandibles and sharp teeth to fatally bite jellyfish. In fact, their teeth are sharp and strong enough to pierce through the hard shells of crabs, lobsters, and sand dollars. This ability also comes with their capacity to quickly dart through waters, leaving minimal room for jellyfish to escape.
Seabirds
Seabirds, including fulmars, labntrosses, and diving petrels, are gifted with great eyesight that enables them to pick up prey moving over or below the water surface. Moreover, these creatures also have the capacity to flawlessly dive and snatch, making it easy for them to catch jellyfish.
These birds consume jellyfish by pecking the tissues inside to avoid the tentacles of the jellyfish.
Turtles
While jellyfish have long tentacles loaded with stinging cells, turtles still feed on these marine invertebrates without getting stung by them. This is due to how certain evolutionary defense mechanisms or adaptations have granted turtles a notable edge over the stings of jellyfish.
Most notably, the skin of turtles are quite thick. This is especially so in the area surrounding their beaks. This protects them from the intense pain that jellyfish stings bring.
Turtles also have papillae that line inside their mouth. This helps them get a grip on the marine invertebrates and stop the prey from slipping.
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