SeaWorld/Busch Gardens

Ask Shamu: jellyfish

Jellyfish


Q: How many arms do jellyfish have?

A: A jellyfish's arms are actually called tentacles. There are more than 200 species of jellyfish and the number of tentacles they have varies from just a few to more than 800. Some are less than an inch long, others trail 120 feet or about 10 stories.

Q: Do jellyfish just float on the water or do they go some place to rest?

A: Jellyfish stay afloat because they are almost weightless in water. Most jellyfish stay in shallow water, floating on the surface. They can swim using muscles and they can drift on the ocean's current. Since jellyfish don't use much energy while drifting, they don't have a great need for rest.


box jellyfish
(Chironex fleckeri)
size: bell at least 17 cm (6.7 in.) high; tentacles at least 3 m (9.8 ft.) long
distribution: northeast coast of Australia


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