Saturday, August 11, 2012

Jelly Fish


Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium


I visited the Shedd Aquarium recently and here are some pics and videos.

Jelly Fishes come in all sizes - the smallest species can fit into a contact lens and the biggest species (The Lion's Mane) has tentacles that stretch to 100 feet!

A Jelly's body is 95% water. Instead of a brain, it has a nerve net. A jelly's mouth not only accepts food, but also serves as outlet for waste and as a pathway for eggs or sperm.

Many Jellies have tentacles and feeding arms that are linked with stinging cells. When they come in contact with the prey, these cells shoot out like tiny harpoons to sting or kill.

One Jelly Fish can lay thousands of eggs each day. This type of mass production often leads to lots of jellies at one time.

Jellies can live even in dead zones, where most animals cannot. Dead zones are polluted, oxygen-starved areas in the ocean. In these zones, the jellies can grow and reproduce unchecked as they are safe from predators.

Further more, jellies do not need to eat much to live. Some jellies can survive for weeks without feed, while others shrink in size. The scarcity of food has less impact on jellies than on other animals.

Some jellies such as Crystal Jellies make their own light using green flourescent protein (GFP) in their cells. This phenomenon is called bioluminescence. GFP is used commonly in biomedicine today and has led to discoveries about cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Moon Jelly



Moon Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium


Hairy Jelly

The white, curly shapes seen in the bell are the Jelly's reproductive organs.

Hairy Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium

Upside - Down Jelly

These jellies live only in the shallow, sunlit waters of mangrove forests and lagoons.


Upside - Down Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium




Upside - Down Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium


Blue blubber Jelly

These jellies range in color from very light blue to navy blue and purple.



Northeast pacific sea nettle

Sea nettles hunt by trailing long tentacles and oral arms covered with stinging cells that paralyze prey.




Northeast Pacific Sea Nettle Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium




Northeast Pacific Sea Nettle Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium


Purple striped sea nettle

These jellies are found in the Northeast Pacific waters.


Purple Striped Sea Nettle Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium


Purple Striped Sea Nettle Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium


Spotted Lagoon Jelly

These Jellies moves their body toward the sunlight, which helps their crop of symbiotic algae to grow.




Japanese Sea Nettle Jelly

Sea Nettle's tentacles can reach up to nearly 10 feet.


Japanese Sea Nettle Jelly Fish Shedd Aquarium

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64 comments:

  1. What a wonderful series of shots... jellyfish are so ethereal and you've captured that essence... Thank you for sharing on Weekly Top Shot #48!

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  2. nice! the hairy jelly is my favorite. it makes me snicker a little.

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  3. These photographs are amazing... they almost seem like aliens I think. Such weird and wonderful creatures

    MOllyxxx

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  4. Jellyfish are certainly bizarre....they don't even have a brain! Great photo-mentary....well-done

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  5. Like fairies of the ocean -- love the different shapes and colors. Thanks so much for sharing at Your Sunday Best this week.

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  6. What an making series of photos. They are amazing!

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  7. Really cool! I have tried and tried to photograph jellies but I just can't seem to get it right! :/ Great job!

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  8. What a wonderful post! I enjoyed looking at your pics and the videos. I must hurry up and take my grandson to the aquarium here too - and take pics! The orange one you shared on Mandarin Orange Monday is truly majestic in its colour, line and grace. I love it!
    Thanks for being part of Mandarin Orange Monday:)

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  9. Those are SO stinkin' cool!!!! I do like that one on the pink/orange background.
    New follower here and looking forward to looking around.
    nancy-of the crazy 9
    http://nancyvnjourney.blogspot.com/

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  10. Beautiful series! Such fascinating creatures.

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  11. Can I just say WOW! These are gorgeous photos of these beautiful creatures!

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  12. Those are amazing photos! I love all the colors and shapes. I'd love to go back to the Shedd Aquarium some day.

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  13. So wonderful, nice and soft photos! I really love them all!:) Have a nice Monday, and nice week!:)

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  14. Wow, these are amazing photos of the jellyfish! Beautiful colors and shapes, thanks for sharing! Have a great week!

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  15. I love jelly fish. They are very beautiful and intricate and good subjects for drawing.
    This is a really fascinating post!
    xxx

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  16. Wow, such amazing photographs!

    Herding Cats

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  17. You have caputred beautiful details here, wonderfully done.

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  18. Very nice series, and informative as well!

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  19. Fantastic series of photos and video ~ Wow! Great topic, colors, lighting ~ very professional ~ (A Creative Harbor)

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  20. You got to see the jellyfish exhibit! I tried to go to the Shedd during the summer and when we were almost at the front of the line to get in, the power went out! You got some great pics!

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  21. What wonderful pictures! They are such interesting creatures.

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  22. Amazing photograpshs, but not my favorite swimming companions.
    Mormor

    http://www.starbear.no/mormor/2012/09/16/mandagstema-atte/

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  23. These are just fantastic. I had no clue there were so many different types of Jellyfish. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. Fascinating post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  25. Fascinating creatures. Really informative post with some great pictures.

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  26. Dangerous jellyfish but beautiful!

    Visiting from Mandarin Orange Monday!
    My Orange post, your comment will be greatly appreciated.

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  27. Wow - fascinating and beautiful shots!

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  28. What beautiful creatures! Thanks for sharing. Joining you from Communal global.

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  29. Amazing photos. Have a fabulous week.

    Liz @ MLC

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  30. Wow, different kinds of jelly fish.. Such a beauty!

    Visiting from MYM- hope you can you stop by..

    http://cassandrasminicorner.blogspot.com/2012/09/mellow-yellow-monday-all-about-yellows.html

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  31. Something so beautiful, floating, transparent...pops quite a sting!! Beward of something so beautiful, in the ocean and in life...HaHa

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  32. Such beautiful creatures with a sting. ;)

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  33. Oh we just watched a special on Planet Earth (Deep Ocean) and they are such facinating creations. I love the way the lights come from their cells and how they illuminate the water.
    Ann

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  34. They are such amazing creatures. Very informative post by you!
    Got to know more about them.

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  35. they're just weird, yet supurbly presented!!

    We here in Australia, have a 'Box Jellyfish' and the most deadly, Irukandji Jellyfish (Carukia barnesi)

    Mines up as well at AussiePomm - Cymbidium

    Orchids


    Have a great WW!!


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  36. Oh wow... these are amazing!! Jelly fish are so interesting. Beautiful shots! Stopping by from Communal Global today. :)

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  37. I learned from a visit to Mystic Seaport that some of the smallest jellyfish cause the greatest pain!

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  38. I love these types of post where I learn a great deal. They are also fabulous pictures as well.

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  39. Calling by from ABC Wednesday, Jelly fish is a great choice and what an interesting post.

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  40. This is FANTASTIC! What a great write-up and group of pictures!

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  41. Interesting jellyfish!

    Visiting from MOM- hope you can stop by..

    http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2012/09/the-clown-fish.html

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  42. Fascinating creatures. Some great facts here. One marvellous sight is to see a group of Portuguese Man o' War floating on the tide, while I'm safely stood on the bridge I hasten to add.
    Joy - ABC Team

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  43. Back again for ABC.

    Juice in Jars
    Your comment always bring joy to me, so leave me one when you can.

    Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

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  44. great post and wonderful pictures!

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  45. I'm jealous of your talent - I visited another aquarium recently & found I couldn't get a decent photo to save my life! Great shots!
    Thank you for visiting Wordless Wednesday at http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/. I appreciate you stopping by and sharing what you’ve been shooting! And please visit this week’s Observing Beauty linky, too – it’s up and running!
    I hope to see you again soon.
    Have a great week,
    NCSue

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  46. 1000s of eggs, hopefully these are the edible ones/

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  47. wow, thanks for all that - great post!

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  48. Wow, what an interesting post! Great photos and videos. Thanks for sharing!

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  49. Mesmerizing! Your pictures capture the magic and your text presents the science in a way even I can understand! Wonderful post..thanks!

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