Jellyfish
Jellyfish are simple marine invertebrates found in oceans worldwide, notable for their gelatinous bodies, ancient evolutionary history, and some species' significant longevity or venomous stings.
Predating dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years while surviving multiple mass extinction events, these ancient, simple creatures continue thriving in ocean waters worldwide today.
An Ancient Evolutionary History
Jellyfish represent one of the oldest animal groups on Earth, with a fossil record extending back over 500 million years, predating dinosaurs significantly.
Simple but Effective Body Structure
Despite lacking brains, hearts, or bones, jellyfish possess a remarkably effective simple body structure that has allowed the group to survive multiple mass extinction events.
Some Species' Venomous Stings
Many jellyfish species possess venomous stinging cells, used both for capturing prey and defense against potential predators.
A Potentially "Immortal" Species
One jellyfish species, Turritopsis dohrnii, has the unique ability to revert to an earlier life stage, leading some scientists to describe it as biologically immortal.
