Jellyfish

Jellyfish are in the Scyphozoa Class and the phylum Cnidaria. Because there are more than 100 types of jellyfish, there is no single Latin name. They are made up of more than 95% water and have a soft, delicate body. They lack a skeletal structure or outer shell and are composed of an outer layer which is the epidermis, which protects the body surface. Jellyfish are able to reproduce both sexually and asexually, during different parts of their life cycle. Male jellyfish release sperm into the water, which then travels into the mouth of a female jellyfish, allowing for the fertilization of the ova. There are many different species of jellyfish that are found all around the ocean, in the deep sea and at surface level. Jellyfish outdate dinosaurs and sharks and it is believed that they have been around for more than 650 million years. More specifically, the Box Jellyfish is highly venomous and have enough poison to kill a person. They live in shallow waters and along beaches, but currents can carry them further away. They are considered to be the most venomous marine animal. The Latin name for this particular jellyfish is Chironex fleckeri.