Black Sea jellyfish off the coast why. The most interesting facts about jellyfish
Jellyfish of the Sea of Azov
In the seas of our country there are two types of jellyfish that can leave burns. , or eared jellyfish, can grow up to 40 cm in diameter. These are round jellyfish with four rings in the center of the cap. Burns from this jellyfish are very mild, but if the toxins get into the eyes (usually through the hands), they will cause a burn to the eye that will take several days to resolve. more poisonous jellyfish. It has large tentacles, and the rim of the cap is colored purple or Blue colour. A meeting with her always ends in burns. Irritation usually goes away in 1-3 days.
Medusa is one of the most ancient inhabitants of the Earth. Having appeared more than 650 million years ago, they have changed little. Almost all jellyfish are jelly-like organisms containing more than 95% water. Only muscle fibers make the jellyfish a complete organism. Jellyfish lack the organs found in many other organisms. But there is a stomach directly connected to the mouth. The mouth opening, in turn, is also a waste outlet. In many jellyfish, the mouth opening and stomach serve not only digestive function, but also the movement function. The jellyfish fills its stomach with water and pushes it out. Thus, she moves in the direction she needs.
Jellyfish are an integral part of all more or less salty bodies of water. There are many species of jellyfish, found both in shallow waters and at depths of more than 10,000 meters; both poisonous and completely harmless; both huge and very small; thermophilic and found among the ice of the Arctic.
There are three types of jellyfish in the Black Sea: Aurelia, Cornerot, and Mnemiopsis. All Black Sea jellyfish are not dangerous. But they bring trouble to both vacationers and fishermen.
Rhizostoma pulmo common name
jellyfish cornermouth
Fishermen call it alicon or alikona. This is the most famous Black Sea jellyfish. Not because it occurs more often than others, but because it stings more often than others.
Carnerot can be recognized by its large cap, up to 50 cm in diameter, and large fleshy root-like outgrowths. These are not tentacles. Cornerots have no tentacles; their oral lobes branch, forming numerous folds fused together. The ends of the oral lobes do not form folds, but end in root-like outgrowths.
Cornerot is a predator that prefers small fish, worms, and small crustaceans. With their venom they paralyze their prey and successfully eat it.
This species is widespread in the Black Sea. Especially a large number of appears on the coast in the second half of summer. This is far from the most pleasant part of the holiday, but it is not dangerous either. The venom of one cornet is not fatal to humans, and the pain after a burn is not much stronger than that of nettles.
Cornerot is sensitive to change weather conditions. For example, before a storm, jellyfish move away from the shore and go to the bottom.
Aurelia aurita Aurelia, or eared jellyfish
Aurelia jellyfish
The common name is aurelia or eared aurelia. Fishermen call it sherikh.
Aurelia reaches 40 cm in diameter. The “hat” is translucent, most often colorless, sometimes with a slight shade of blue, pink, and purple.
Aurelia is carnivorous. The diet of Aurelia includes mollusks, crustaceans, larval shells, crustaceans, rotifers, protozoa, and diatoms.
Aurelia's habitat is the coast. Optimal temperature for aurelia 9 - 19 C0. , although it can withstand water temperatures down to -30 C0.
Mnemiopsis leidyi
jellyfish Mnemiopsis
Mnemiopsis is a jellyfish that does not have tentacles or stings. It reaches 10 cm in length and 6 cm in width. This organism has the properties of bioluminescence - the ability to glow.
Sexual maturity of both female and male individuals occurs on the 13th day of life. Mneniopsis is capable of fertilizing itself. Spawning occurs only at night. One individual is capable of producing 8,000 eggs. After fertilization, the embryo is fully formed as a jellyfish at the 20th hour of life.
Mnemiopsis feeds mainly on the eggs of small fish (sprat, etc.) and zooplankton. This organism will continue to consume food even after the stomach is completely full. When the stomach is full, the excess food is expelled as a ball of mucus. If there is no food available, Mnemiopsis can survive for up to three weeks.
Mneniopsis is not native to the Black Sea, but comes from the eastern shores of the USA and the West Indies. The invasion of this species in the Black Sea has caused significant damage to fisheries. Currently, measures are being taken to reduce the number of this species.
Hydroid jellyfish
The class Hydroids - Hydrozoa - includes about 2800 species. In the life cycle of most hydroid polyps (Hydrozoa), as well as most coelenterates: scyphozoans (Scyphozoa) and box jellyfish (Cubozoa), the sexual phase of the life cycle, the jellyfish, dominates. This group of jellyfish has its own distinctive features.
The digestive system of hydroids is represented by a gastric cavity that has no partitions. The pharynx is missing. The ectoderm and endoderm meet at the edge of the mouth opening.
Digestive juices are secreted into the intestinal cavity of the hydra by the glandular cells of the endoderm.
Tentacles hang along the edges of the umbrella, maybe 4, 8, 16, rarely more. At the base of the tentacles or between them there are sensory organs. WITH inside On the edge of the umbrella, the ectoderm forms an annular protrusion, the so-called sail or velum.
Reproductive products are formed in the ectoderm. The nervous system is diffuse (scattered throughout the body). Nerve cells - neurons - form nerve networks and plexuses.
The ectoderm of the hydra includes epithelial-muscular, stinging, intermediate, nerve and pigment cells.
When the hydra body regenerates, new cells are formed from unspecialized intermediate cells.
The hydroid class unites, along with hydras, a large number of species of marine colonial polyps. Marine hydroids lead an attached lifestyle. Their colonies look like small bushes.
The presence of hydrode jellyfish in the Black Sea has not yet been discovered.
Why are jellyfish dangerous?
Jellyfish are considered the most ancient inhabitants of our planet, they are about 650 million years old, and during this time they have undergone virtually no changes and remained in the same form as millions of years ago. Jellyfish are dome-shaped, they are composed of 95% water, and the presence of muscle fibers makes the jellyfish look like jelly. The jellyfish has no organs as such, but there is an opening into which food enters and is processed there, and final result recycling comes out through the same hole. Jellyfish come in completely different sizes and they live both in shallow water and in great depths, jellyfish can live both in warm waters and in very cold ones, they are even found near the ice of the Arctic.
Why do jellyfish sting?
The body of a jellyfish is covered with special cells that inject toxins into everything they come into contact with. Most of the stinging cells are on the tentacles of the jellyfish and the rim of its cap.
Jellyfish that live in the Black and Azov Seas do not pose a threat to human life. The stung area quickly turns red. Most people just feel uncomfortable because of this. But experts still recommend immediately getting out of the water and onto the shore.
Jellyfish burn
A jellyfish sting can cause painful shock.
For allergy sufferers, children, the elderly, and people with cardiovascular disease, a reaction to a jellyfish sting can be hazardous to health. The stung person feels severe pain, it radiates in the nearest joints, and then spreads to the whole body. Shock may cause a person to stop breathing. In the seas of our country there are no jellyfish with such strong toxins, but in the seas South-East Asia there are plenty of them.
First aid
First aid for a jellyfish sting or burn: how to treat burns and jellyfish stings
The stung area must be rid of jellyfish tentacles and poisonous cells (rinse with water). They are not visible to the eye, so prevention should always be carried out. The stung area can be wiped well with a towel or sand.
For burns caused by jellyfish, you need to wash the affected area with salt water. It is not recommended to wash affected areas fresh water, in which burning enzymes can be activated. If you pick up a jellyfish, do not touch your face after that; wash your hands well with soap and water. If your face is burned by a jellyfish, rinse your eyes only with plenty of warm water. fresh water and consult a doctor for help.
After this, the poison should be neutralized. Burn areas on the body can be wiped with vinegar, this will significantly relieve irritation; you can use soda solution, ammonia or alcohol.
To speed up recovery, use an anti-inflammatory agent in the form of a gel or ointment (such as lifesaver or others).
The stung area should be protected from sunlight.
Ultraviolet radiation easily burns damaged skin and also causes sunburn.
If a blister appears, an encounter with a jellyfish does not always end only in redness. A jellyfish sting can cause large blisters. First aid will be the same, but be careful not to burst the bubble. To protect the blister from breaking, you should cover it with a bandage.
Sometimes on the beaches you can see how some self-medication enthusiasts rub themselves with jellyfish in the hope of getting rid of rheumatism, radiculitis, and neuralgia. Such “treatment” is unacceptable; it can lead to unpredictable consequences, since the venom of jellyfish has not yet been studied enough.
How to treat a jellyfish burn at home
Tablets and injections for jellyfish stings
Fenistil.
This is a first generation antihistamine. It is recommended to take the capsule and apply a gel of the same name to the burn. This drug simply blocks the body's response to irritants. need three times a day for a week.
Eden.
This is a syrup with a pleasant taste. The drug is a new generation antihistamine. Differs in small amount side effects, which allows it to be used by elderly patients and those with heart disease.
Diazolin.
This is the most inexpensive antihistamine, which has a large number of side effects. The medicine belongs to the first generation, therefore, it should not be taken by people with heart problems and small children.
Suprastin.
They are classified as first generation antihistamines. It is too effective remedy for allergies, with an impressive list of side effects.
Citrine.
Refers to third-generation drugs that do not cause drowsiness and do not in any way affect the state of the cardiovascular system. Analogues of Citrine are Erius, Trexil, Loratadine. These medications can be taken for several months.
Diprospan.
This drug is used by emergency medical technicians to suppress allergic reactions. This is a glucocorticosteroid, which, when administered intramuscularly, quickly enters the bloodstream and immediately relieves all allergy symptoms. This is an emergency drug, so you should not use it yourself.
No-Shpa.
Medopred.
A corticosteroid to quickly relieve symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. Used for Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. This drug is used by emergency doctors for emergency care when a person is choking and has swelling of the tongue and larynx. This injection is most often given when stung by a purple jellyfish, the venom of which is very toxic.
The most dangerous poisonous jellyfish
Sea wasp. This jellyfish is extremely dangerous. Among those whom she stung, there were few survivors. She releases enough poison to kill 50 grown men! Found in Australia, prefers shallow areas with reefs and seagrass.
Irukandji. This marine resident is found in the waters of Oceania and Australia. Releases poison from the tip of the tentacle, which is not very painful. Accordingly, the victim ignores the bite. Over time, the poison spreads throughout the body, causing vomiting, nausea, paralysis and back pain. There are few deaths from the sting of this jellyfish, but the consequences can be dire.
Physalia Portuguese man of war. It’s hard not to notice the jellyfish; it has a beautiful dome that shines with all the colors of the rainbow. Found in the Mediterranean Sea, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The bite is not very painful, so the victim continues to bathe. When poison enters the bloodstream, disruptions in the functioning of the respiratory and nervous systems are observed. A person can drown from convulsions and paralysis.
Cross. Found in the Northern part Pacific Ocean. It stings very painfully. If you come into contact with this marine life, you should get out of the water, as dizziness, nausea, paralysis, and numbness of the limbs may occur. The poison completely leaves the body after 4 days.
Cyanea. Long thin tentacles extend from the dome. When you touch them, you feel a strong burning sensation. There are not many deaths, but the consequences are not the most pleasant. The victim feels weakness, nausea and swelling of the mucous membranes. Jellyfish are rarely found in coastal areas, preferring depth.
Invasion of jellyfish on Tarkhankut
Invasion of jellyfish Olenevka Invasion of jellyfish Okunevka Invasion of jellyfish Zolotoy Crimea Invasion of jellyfish Donuzlav
Jellyfish can rightfully be called one of the most mysterious inhabitants of the depths of the sea, causing interest and a certain fear. Who are they, where did they come from, what varieties are there in the world, what is their life cycle, are they as dangerous as popular rumor says - I want to know about all this for sure.
Jellyfish appeared more than 650 million years ago, making them one of the oldest organisms on Earth.
About 95% of the jellyfish's body is water, which is also their habitat. Most jellyfish live in salt water, although there are species that prefer fresh water. Jellyfish are the “sea jelly” phase of the life cycle of members of the genus Medusozoa, alternating with the stationary asexual phase of nonmotile polyps, from which they are formed by budding after maturation.
The name was introduced in the 18th century by Carl Linnaeus, who saw in these strange organisms a certain resemblance to the mythical Gorgon Medusa, due to the presence of tentacles that flutter like hair. With their help, the jellyfish catches small organisms that serve as food for it. The tentacles may look like long or short, pointed threads, but they are all equipped with stinging cells that stun prey and make hunting easier.
Life cycle scyphoid: 1-11 - asexual generation (polyp); 11-14 - sexual generation (jellyfish).
Glowing jellyfish
The one who saw it glow dark night sea water, he is unlikely to be able to forget this spectacle: myriads of lights illuminate deep sea, shimmer like diamonds. The reason for this amazing phenomenon The smallest planktonic organisms, including jellyfish, serve. The phosphoric jellyfish is considered one of the most beautiful. It is not found very often, living in the benthic zone near the coasts of Japan, Brazil, and Argentina.
The diameter of the luminous jellyfish umbrella can reach 15 centimeters. Living in the dark depths, jellyfish are forced to adapt to conditions, provide themselves with food, so as not to disappear altogether as a species. An interesting fact is that the bodies of jellyfish do not have muscle fibers and cannot resist water flows.
Since the slow jellyfish, swimming at the will of the current, cannot keep up with mobile crustaceans, small fish or other planktonic inhabitants, they have to use a trick and force them to swim up to the predatory mouth opening. And the best bait in the darkness of the bottom space is light.
The body of a luminous jellyfish contains a pigment - luciferin, which is oxidized under the influence of a special enzyme - luciferase. The bright light attracts victims like moths to a candle flame.
Some species of luminous jellyfish, such as Rathkeya, Equorea, Pelagia, live near the surface of the water, and, gathering in large quantities, they literally make the sea burn. Amazing ability emitting light interested scientists. Phosphors have been successfully isolated from the genome of jellyfish and introduced into the genomes of other animals. The results turned out to be quite unusual: for example, mice whose genotype was changed in this way began to grow green hairs.
Poisonous jellyfish - Sea Wasp
Today, more than three thousand jellyfish are known, and many of them are far from harmless to humans. All types of jellyfish have stinging cells “charged” with poison. They help to paralyze the victim and deal with him without any problems. Without exaggeration, for divers, swimmers, and fishermen, a jellyfish called the Sea Wasp is represented. The main habitat of such jellyfish is warm tropical waters, there are especially many of them off the coast of Australia and Oceania.
Transparent bodies of pale blue color are invisible in warm water quiet sandy bays. The small size, namely, up to forty centimeters in diameter, is also not attractive special attention. Meanwhile, the poison of one individual is enough to send about fifty people to heaven. Unlike their phosphorescent counterparts, sea wasps can change direction of movement, easily finding careless swimmers. The poison that enters the victim’s body causes paralysis of smooth muscles, including the respiratory tract. Being in shallow water, a person has a small chance of being saved, but even if health care was provided in a timely manner and the person did not die from suffocation; deep ulcers form at the sites of the “bites”, causing severe pain and not healing for many days.
Dangerous little ones - Irukandji jellyfish
Tiny Irukandji jellyfish, described by Australian Jack Barnes in 1964, have a similar effect on the human body, with the only difference being that the degree of damage is not so deep. He, as a true scientist who stands up for science, experienced the effect of poison not only on himself, but also on his own son. Symptoms of poisoning - severe headache and muscle pain, convulsions, nausea, drowsiness, loss of consciousness - are not fatal in themselves, but the main risk is a sharp increase in blood pressure from a man who personally met Irukandji. If the victim has problems with cardiovascular system, then the probability of death is quite high. The size of this baby is about 4 centimeters in diameter, but its thin spindle-shaped tentacles reach 30-35 centimeters in length.
Bright beauty - Physalia jellyfish
Another very dangerous inhabitant of tropical waters for humans is Physalia - the Sea Boat. Her umbrella is colored bright colors: blue, violet, purple and floats on the surface of the water, so it is visible from afar. Entire colonies of attractive sea “flowers” attract gullible tourists, beckoning them to pick them up as quickly as possible. This is where the main danger lurks: long, up to several meters, tentacles, equipped with a huge number of stinging cells, are hidden under the water. The poison acts very quickly, causing severe burns, paralysis and disruption of the cardiovascular, respiratory and central nervous systems. If the meeting took place on great depth or simply far from the shore, then its outcome may be the saddest.
Giant Jellyfish Nomura - Lion's Mane
The real giant is the Nomura Bell, also called Lion's mane for some time external resemblance with the king of beasts. The diameter of the dome can reach two meters, and the weight of such a “baby” reaches two hundred kilos. Lives on Far East, in the coastal waters of Japan, off the coast of Korea and China.
A huge hairy ball, falling into fishing nets, damages them, causing damage to fishermen and striking them themselves when they try to free themselves. Even if their venom is not fatal to humans, meetings with the “Lion’s Mane” rarely take place in a friendly atmosphere.
Cyanea is considered one of the largest jellyfish. Living in cold waters, it reaches largest sizes. The most gigantic specimen was discovered and described by scientists at the end of the 19th century in North America: its dome was 230 centimeters in diameter, and the length of the tentacles turned out to be 36.5 meters. There are a lot of tentacles, they are collected in eight groups, each of which has from 60 to 150 pieces. It is characteristic that the dome of the jellyfish is divided into eight segments, representing a kind of octagonal star. Fortunately, they do not live in the Azov and Black Seas, so you don’t have to worry about them when going to the sea to relax.
Depending on the size, the color also changes: large specimens are painted bright purple or purple, smaller ones - in orange, pink or beige. Cyaneans live in surface waters, rarely descending into the depths. The poison is not dangerous to humans, causing only an unpleasant burning sensation and blisters on the skin.
Using jellyfish in cooking
The number of jellyfish living in the seas and oceans Globe truly enormous, and not a single species is in danger of extinction. Their use is limited by mining capabilities, but people have long been using beneficial features jellyfish in medical purposes and enjoy them taste qualities in cooking. In Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries, jellyfish have long been eaten, calling them “crystal meat”. Its benefits are due to the high content of protein, albumin, vitamins and amino acids, and microelements. And when properly prepared, it has a very refined taste.
Jellyfish “meat” is added to salads and desserts, sushi and rolls, soups and main courses. In a world where population growth is steadily threatening the onset of famine, especially in underdeveloped countries, protein from jellyfish can be a good help in solving this issue.
Jellyfish in medicine
The use of jellyfish for the manufacture of medicines is typical, to a greater extent, in those countries where their use as food has long ceased to be a subject of surprise. For the most part, these are countries located in coastal areas where jellyfish are directly harvested.
In medicine, preparations containing processed jellyfish bodies are used to treat infertility, obesity, baldness and gray hair. The poison extracted from stinging cells helps to cope with diseases of the ENT organs and normalize blood pressure.
Modern scientists are struggling to find medicine capable of winning cancerous tumors, without excluding the possibility that jellyfish will also help in this difficult fight.
Scientists do not give a definite answer to the question of how long jellyfish live. Many agree that the life cycle of these animals is short and the life expectancy of most species is from two to six months.
Recently, zoologists discovered that among representatives of this species there are specimens that never die and are always reborn. That is why the Turitopsis Nutricula jellyfish is considered to be the only immortal creature on the planet.
Who are jellyfish
When zoologists talk about jellyfish, they usually mean all mobile forms of coelenterate cnidarians (a group of multicellular invertebrate representatives of the animal world) that catch and kill their victims with the help of tentacles.
These amazing animals live only in salt water, and therefore they can be found in all oceans and seas of our planet (except internal ones), sometimes in closed lagoons or lakes with salt water on coral islands. Among the representatives of this class there are both heat-loving animals and those that prefer cold waters, species that live only near the surface of the water, and those that live only on the bottom of the ocean.
Jellyfish are solitary animals, since they do not communicate with each other in any way, even if currents bring them together, thus forming a colony.
We got ours modern name these creatures in the middle of the 18th century thanks to Karl Lineus, who hinted at the mythical head of the Gorgon Medusa, the resemblance to which he noticed in these representatives of the animal world. This name is not without reason, since these animals are similar to it.
This amazing animal consists of 98% water, and therefore has a transparent body with a slight tint, which in appearance resembles a jelly-like bell, umbrella or disk that moves by contracting the muscles of the bell wall.
Along the edges of the body there are tentacles, the appearance of which directly depends on what species it belongs to: in some they are short and thick, in others they are long and thin. Their number can vary from four to several hundred (but always a multiple of four, since representatives of this class of animals are characterized by radial symmetry).
These tentacles consist of string cells that contain poison and are therefore directly intended for hunting. It is interesting that even after death, jellyfish are able to sting for another fortnight. Some species can be deadly even to humans. For example, the animal known as the “Sea Wasp” is considered the most dangerous poisonous animal in the world’s oceans: scientists claim that its poison is enough to poison sixty people in a few minutes.
The outer part of the body is smooth and convex, while the lower part resembles a bag. In the center of the lower part there is a mouth: in some jellyfish it looks like a tube, in others it is short and wide, in others it resembles short clubs. This hole also serves to remove food debris.
These animals grow throughout their lives, and their size largely depends on the species: among them there are very small ones, no more than a few millimeters, and there are also huge ones, the body size of which exceeds two meters, and together with the tentacles - all thirty ( for example, the largest jellyfish in the world's oceans, Cyanea, which lives in the North-West Atlantic, has a body size of more than 2 m, and with tentacles - almost forty).
Despite the fact that these marine animals lack brains and sensory organs, they have light-sensitive cells that act as eyes, thanks to which these organisms are able to distinguish darkness from light (they, however, are not able to see objects). Interestingly, some specimens glow in the dark, with species living at great depths having a red light, and those living closer to the surface having a blue light.
Since these animals are primitive organisms, they consist of only two layers, connected thanks to a special adhesive substance - mesoglia:
- external (ectoderm) - a kind of analogue of skin and muscles. The rudiments of the nervous system and germ cells are also located here;
- internal (endoderm) - performs only one function: digests food.
Methods of transportation
Since all representatives of this class (even the largest individuals, whose weight exceeds several centners) are almost unable to resist sea currents, scientists consider jellyfish as representatives of plankton.
Most species water flows They still do not give in completely and, although slowly, they move, using the current and the thin muscle fibers of their body: contracting, they fold the body of the jellyfish like an umbrella - and the water that is in the lower part of the animal is sharply pushed out.
As a result, a strong jet is formed, pushing the animal forward. Therefore these sea creatures always move in the direction opposite to the mouth. They are helped to determine where exactly they need to move by the balance organs located on the tentacles.
Regeneration
One more interesting feature of these creatures is their ability to restore lost parts of the body - absolutely all the cells of these animals are interchangeable: even if this animal is divided into parts, it will restore them, forming two new individuals! If you do this with an adult jellyfish, an adult copy will appear; from a jellyfish larva, a larva will appear.
Reproduction
Looking at these amazing translucent creatures, many ask themselves the question of how jellyfish reproduce. Reproduction of jellyfish is an interesting and unusual process.
Answering the question of how jellyfish reproduce, it is worth noting that in this case, it is possible both sexually (they are heterosexual) and vegetative propagation. The first involves several stages:
- In these animals, the sex cells mature in the gonads;
- After the eggs and sperm mature, they come out through the mouth and are fertilized, resulting in the appearance of a jellyfish larva - a planula;
- After some time, the planula settles to the bottom and attaches itself to something, after which a polyp appears on the basis of the planula, which reproduces by budding: on it, layering on top of each other, daughter organisms are formed;
- After some time, they peel off and float away, revealing themselves as a newly born jellyfish.
The reproduction of some species differs somewhat from this pattern. For example, the pelagic jellyfish does not have a polyp stage at all - the cubs appear directly from the larva. But bougainvillea jellyfish can be said to be born, since polyps are formed directly in the gonads, without separating from the adults, without any intermediate stages.
Nutrition
These amazing animals are the most numerous predators on our planet. They feed mainly on plankton: fry, small crustaceans, and fish eggs. Larger specimens often catch small fish and smaller relatives.
Thus, jellyfish see almost nothing and do not have any sense organs; they hunt with the help of scratching tentacles, which, having sensed the touch of edible food on them, instantly inject poison into it, which paralyzes the victim, after which the jellyfish eats it. There are two more options for catching food (much depends on the type of jellyfish): the first is that the prey sticks to the tentacles, the second is that it gets entangled in them.
Classification
There are the following types of jellyfish, differing from each other in structure.
Hydromedusa
Hydroid jellyfish are transparent, small in size (from 1 mm to 3 cm), four tentacles and a long tube-shaped mouth are attached to the body. Among prominent representatives hydromedusa - jellyfish Turritopsis nutricula: the only creature discovered by people about which scientists have declared that it is immortal.
Having reached maturity, it sinks to the bottom of the sea, transforming into a polyp, on which new formations are formed, from which new jellyfish subsequently arise.
This process is repeated more than once, which means that it is constantly reborn, and can die only if it is eaten by some predator. Like these ones Interesting Facts Scientists recently told the world about jellyfish.
Scyphojellyfish
Scyphoid jellyfish have a more complex structure compared to hydromedusae: they are larger than representatives of other species - the most big jellyfish in the world, the Cyanea jellyfish belongs to this class. This giant jellyfish At about 37 meters long, it is one of the longest animals on Earth. Therefore, she eats a lot: during her life, the largest jellyfish eats about 15 thousand fish.
Scyphojellyfish have a more developed nervous and muscular system, a mouth surrounded by a huge number of stinging and tactile cells, and the stomach is divided into chambers.
Like all jellyfish, these animals are predators, but deep-sea ones also feed on dead organisms. The touch of a scyphoid jellyfish to a person is quite painful (the feeling as if bitten by a wasp), and a mark resembling a burn often remains at the point of contact. Its bite can also cause allergic reaction or even painful shock. Having seen this animal, it is advisable not to take risks and, when swimming past, not to touch it.
One of the most striking specimens of this species, in addition to the Cyanea jellyfish, is also the Aurelia jellyfish (the most typical representative) and the Golden Jellyfish, an animal that can only be seen in the Rocky Islands archipelago in Palau.
The golden jellyfish is notable for the fact that, unlike its relatives, who live only in the seas, it lives in Jellyfish Lake, which is connected to the ocean by underground tunnels and is filled with slightly salted water. Representatives of this species also differ from marine individuals in that they completely lack dark spots, there are no stinging tentacles, as well as tentacles that surround the mouth.
Although the golden jellyfish is a scyphojellyfish, over many years it has turned into a completely different species that does not pose a danger to humans, since it has significantly lost its stinging ability. An interesting fact is that the Golden Jellyfish began to grow on its body green algae, from which it receives part of its nutrition. The Golden Jellyfish, like its marine relatives, feeds on plankton and has not lost the ability to migrate - in the morning it swims away to East Coast, in the evening - sails to the west.
Box jellyfish
Box jellyfish have a more advanced nervous system compared to other representatives of the cnidarian class. They are the fastest of all jellyfish (able to reach speeds of up to 6 m/min) and can easily change the direction of their movement. They are also the most dangerous representatives jellyfish for humans: the bites of some representatives of box jellyfish can be fatal.
The most poisonous jellyfish in the world belongs to this species, lives near the Australian coast and is called the Box Jellyfish or Sea Wasp: its poison can kill a person in just a few minutes. This wasp is almost transparent, of a pale blue hue, which is why it is difficult to notice on the water, which means it is easier to stumble upon it.
The Sea Wasp is the most large jellyfish in her class - her body is the size of a basketball. When a sea wasp simply swims, its tentacles are reduced to 15 cm in length and are almost invisible. But when the animal hunts, they stretch up to three meters. Sea Wasps feed mainly on shrimp and small fish, and they themselves are caught and eaten sea turtles- the only animals on our planet that are insensitive to the poison of some of the most dangerous creatures on the ground.
What dangerous animals live in water, and is it dangerous to take children on vacation? We assure you that sea inhabitants will not cause bathers much trouble, except perhaps minor troubles. You can admire their appearance, but it is undesirable to swim close and touch them. These include, for example, jellyfish of the Black Sea.
What jellyfish are found in the Black Sea?
Several types sea creatures, characteristic of the depths of the Black Sea:
Corner jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo)
It has a fleshy, bell-shaped dome. The oral lobes can be seen above it. This is where the poisonous stinging cells are contained. It is recommended to swim them from a distance. This inhabitant of the deep sea will not cause any particular harm, but it can burn.
Aurelia (Aurelia aurita)
It also has stinging cells that can burn the human mucosa around the eyes or lips. If you hold Aurelia in your hand, even a dead one, nothing will happen. But afterward, be sure to rinse your brushes with water, otherwise you may accidentally rub your eye and introduce toxic cells from the jellyfish’s dome onto the mucous membrane, which will cause irritation. It is also called the “eared jellyfish” because of its unusual appearance.
Mnemiopsis jellyfish (Mnemiopsis leidyi)
Mnemiopsis also belongs to the jellyfish of the Black Sea. The smallest in size of this family. Its length ranges from 6 to 10 cm. It only causes harm to fishing by feeding on small fish eggs. At the same time, this population multiplies very quickly. Initially, an individual of this species appeared on the eastern coast of the United States and western India. Listed in Black Sea it was an accident, which had a beneficial effect on ecological situation in the region.
Nature of jellyfish
The stinging cells of jellyfish are designed by nature for prey. The animal injures plankton inhabitants and fry by releasing poison from the capsule using a spear hidden under a dome in the form of a coiled spring. It straightens out and mortally wounds the victim: its tip breaks off and remains in the body of the fish or other animal, after which the poison spreads throughout the body.
Having fired once, the stinging cell dies.
The sight of jellyfish causes a storm of emotions, especially in children. They can either admire the grace and smooth movements of the sea wonder, or experience fear and disgust. Jellyfish live both in the seas and in the oceans, they are found in the depths, but sometimes they are thrown onto the coast by a strong wave.
Damage jellyfish like any other object underwater world, forbidden. Every organism in water performs a function intended by nature. For example, jellyfish are sea cleaners. They are 85% water and move with tentacles.
Precautionary measures
What to do if you are burned by a jellyfish
If there is contact with the dome of the jellyfish, and the animal releases stinging cells, then a burn will occur on the body surfaces and mucous membranes. First aid should be provided. Do not rinse the affected areas with fresh water, as this may cause inflammation toxic substance. If a child touches a jellyfish, you need to wash his hands with soap and water so that he does not get the poison into his eyes and mouth. It is recommended to wipe the burn area with vinegar and be sure to show the area of irritation to a doctor. If all the requirements are met, after one and a half or two, all symptoms will disappear without a trace.
Under no circumstances should the burn site be exposed to Sun rays– so the inflammation will become stronger.
On the shores you can spot lovers of alternative medicine who use jellyfish rubbing to treat radiculitis and rheumatism. This should not be done under any circumstances to avoid irritation of the skin.
You found out what Black Sea jellyfish exist, looked at their photos and descriptions and made sure that they are. The sea depths are not characterized by an aggressive environment. Neither are found here electric ramps, neither hunting sharks, nor blind moray eels with teeth. The only dogfish found in the Black Sea is the dogfish shark Squalus acanthias, which prefers the cool water of the depths and very rarely goes to the coast, as it is afraid of people. It poses a real danger only to fishermen who try to grab the animal by the upper spines - they are sharp and poisonous on the shark.
Among all the creatures on the planet, jellyfish are one of the most ancient. Scientists claim that they lived in water spaces hundreds of millions of years ago. These creatures are found both in the seas and oceans. Are different appearance, because some are attractive, while others, to put it mildly, are repulsive. Some of them are harmless, but some carry hidden threat so we collected everything interesting facts about jellyfish and combined them into one list.
1. The largest jellyfish is called the Arctic giant and its size is truly impressive. It was possible to find an individual whose dome diameter is almost 2.5 meters, and the length of the entire body, including tentacles, is over 35 meters.
2. It has long been believed that fish are soothing, so people often buy aquariums for themselves at home and admire the inhabitants of the seas, feeding them. In Japan, jellyfish are bred for the same purpose, because researchers in this country have found that their monotonous, smooth movements completely help strengthen the nervous system.
3. Interesting fact about jellyfish for children. Their largest concentration is in the lake of the same name on the Rocky Archipelago. According to preliminary estimates, there are more than two million individuals there, and this despite the fact that the lake itself is 450 meters long and only 170 wide.
4. The creature does not have lungs; it captures oxygen mixed with water with its entire body. At the same time, the jellyfish also does not have a brain, but has two nervous systems and two dozen eyes.
5. Among the most interesting facts about jellyfish is the box jellyfish and its capabilities. The creature can reach speeds of up to two meters per second and at the same time has a deadly powerful poison. Even the slightest touch to her is fatal, and the total amount of poison in her body is enough to send at least fifty people to the next world.
6. Despite the simplicity of their body structure, jellyfish are capable of movement. They swallow some of the water into themselves and then push it back out. But this happens extremely rarely; most often they prefer to follow the flow, completely inactive.
7. Jellyfish are regularly used in medicine. Back in the Middle Ages, it was discovered that a separate part of their body, called the cornet, has a laxative property. Nowadays, the poison of these creatures is actively used, because it makes medications more effective, which helps normalize blood pressure.
8. The life cycle of a jellyfish is unique. It begins with eggs, from which planulae are born; they resemble a ciliate shoe enlarged thousands of times, which drifts in the water surface until it encounters something solid on its way, be it a reef, a rock, or maybe the bottom. Having attached to it, it forms a polyp, which gradually grows and forms into something more reminiscent of a jelly-like creature. Sometimes after a month, and sometimes after a year, the changed polyp detaches and the jellyfish appears before the world.
9. Any animal known to possess poison, as a rule, infects its victim through a bite. But jellyfish are a clear exception, because for this they have special organs called nematocysts. Feeling threatened, they stimulate them with such force that they literally explode, striking the enemy's body with hundreds of drops of deadly poison.
10. There is an assumption that one of the types of these creatures is immortal. Scientists have been able to establish that Turritopsis dornii, already fully grown, can return to the polyp state and, in theory, can do this indefinitely. However, this was only verified in the laboratory, because in reality real life they are either eaten or sooner or later washed up on the shore.
