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Physiology of a Jellyfish

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Submitted By jmk211024
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The organism I chose to write this paper about is the jellyfish. There are more than 350 different species of jellyfish known, however, scientist estimate there may be 2,000. Since I could not pick just one to write about I thought I would just not be too specific one just one species. There are many diverse forms and they are distinguished into distinct groups. The one jellyfish I liked when I was growing up was the one you always would see in pictures or on television, this one is called the Moon jellyfish.
Jellyfish are very efficient predators. They were actually, at one point in time, at the top of the food chain. They are, however, number one when it comes to the world’s most venomous species. More precise the Boxed jellyfish is number one. Jellyfish are physically fit so that they can adapt to any environment they travel to. They are very powerful, accurate swimmers. Some researchers say they are not good swimmers at all but they are wrong. Jellyfish are excellent swimmers. They can swim horizontally and vertically as well. They can do this by using contraction against their bell, the top of the jellyfish, to push out jets of water to give themselves a boost. The coronal muscle is a thick ring of powerful muscle found in the bell. This muscle produces a majority of the power and energy utilized by the jellyfish. Hanging from their subumbrellar is a projection called the manubrium. This is where a person can find the jellyfishes’ mouth. Now, the mouth is surrounded by oral arms, normally there are about four but there can be eight. This all depends on the species of jellyfish. A jellyfish does not have a brain, nor does it have any blood, nor does it have a nervous system. Even though the jellyfish does not have a brain it does have a complex computer. This computer accommodates the needs of the jellyfish and it also functions its body. This computer does suit the jellyfish well.
Going under the bell, this is where the tentacles lie. These can be used to feed or as a self-defense mechanism. The body and the tentacles of a jellyfish can release stinging cells called nematocysts. These stinging cells are arranged into stinging batteries. They are triggered by touch of the like quarry. Also, another trigger could be the touch of quarry wanting to attack the jellyfish. When a jellyfish attacks they release dozens of harpoons into the victim. In doing this, they inject the victim with venom and the venom will kill the prey. On other occasions it can release stick threads that will just trap the quarry. With all the diverse species of jellyfish, there are many diverse types of nematocysts that can be found inside the coelenterates. Having a defense like this has served the jellyfish well and it serves them extremely well when they hunt and protect themselves.
One jellyfish, in particular, is the Lions Mane jellyfish. This particular jellyfish has a massive tangle of tentacles. These tentacles sweep the ocean floor like a fishing net. This net of tentacles is that of a tennis court. Knowing this makes this jellyfish a real nasty hunter. It can capture and kill dozens of prey in minutes.
After researching jellyfish I find my eyes open and I find that a lot of people underestimate them. That is a real big mistake. A jellyfish may not look harmless but they are very dangerous creatures. I know this from experience. I was 16 years old, me and my family were on vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. My step-sister and I went out in the ocean in some tubes. I put my foot through the hole to start swimming back to shore and I felt this awful burn. I got to shore and found that I got stung by a jellyfish on my leg. Only reason I knew is because the day before my step-sister was stung by one on her leg. It hurt so bad I never want to experience that again.
References
Building Bodies of Jellyfish. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://cronodon.com/BioTech/Jellyfish.html
Scribe, T. (2011). Jellyfish- Stinging Swimmers for 505 Million Years. Retrieved from http://ancientstandard.com/2011/04/06/jellyfish-stinging-swimmers-for-505-million-years/

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