Description: Jellyfish are invertebrates (they do not have a backbone). They belong to the Phylum Cnidaria (pronounced ni*da"ri*a) which is a group of animals with the following characteristics:
- radial symmetry
- diploblastic (body wall consists of ectoderm and endoderm separated by a mesoglea)
- possess nematocysts
Jellyfish experience alternation of generations in which one generation (medussa) reproduces sexually and the next (scyphistomae) reproduces asexually. The medusa form is the dominant form. The stages of a jellyfish's life cycle include:
- egg and sperm
- planula larva
- scyphistoma (polyp)
- strobilating scyphistomata (polyp hydroid colony)
- ephyra
- medusa
Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Cnidaria
- Class: Scyphozoa (Source: Morris and Fautin)
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Habitat: Jellyfish live in all oceans including Arctic and tropical seas (Source: Morris and Fautin).
Range: A few species inhabit the deep sea. Most species are common in coastal waters (Source: Morris and Fautin).
Diet: Jellyfish are carnivores. They feed on zooplankton, fish, and invertebrates. (Source: Morris and Fautin)
Sources:
- Burnie, D. and D.E. Wilson. Animal. Dorling Kindersley. London. 2001.
- Morris, M. and D. Fautin. 2001. ' Scyphozoa' (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 27, 2005.
