Moon Jellyfish Florida Jellyfish

Portuguese man o war via flickr quinet joi.

Moon jellyfish florida jellyfish. The most common species in florida are man o war box jellyfish mauve. The area s population of moon jellyfish while beautiful can irritate skin causing itching and pain. The moon jelly feeds on plankton using the tentacles flowing from the bell and is not harmful to humans. This moon jellyfish has just washed up on a florida panhandle beach.

They are a very common sight in the jellyfish hotspots such as florida hawaii sussex the gulf of mexico and the shores of great britain to name a few and occur in large numbers year after year. Moon jellyfish are also known as moon jellies saucer jellies and common sea jellies. Large numbers of moon jellys in the inlet at cape canaveral s jetty park. This is what a mass stranding of jellyfish on the beach looks like.

The portuguese man of war can be identified from other types of jellyfish in florida by its translucent blue pink green or purple gas filled air sac which helps the sea creature travel long distances across the ocean by acting as a wind driven sail. The portuguese man o war physalia physalis is a common jellyfish found on florida beaches but it s not actually a true jellyfish. While many species are harmless florida does see moon jellyfish box jellyfish mauve stingers and even man o war which has been a frequent visitor to some beaches this year. The moon jellyfish aurelia aurita are commonly seen in the florida keys and live in temperate coastal waters around the globe.

Common predators of the moon jellyfish include birds sea turtles. Jellyfish are 95 percent water and most are harmless but some can cause mild rashes to extreme allergic reactions. The large specimens of the moon jellyfishes were reported to have a 12 inch. Moon jellies are carnivorous feeding on organisms like crustaceans diatoms protozoans mollusks tunicate larvae and rotifers.

Moon jellyfish aurelia aurita santa rosa beach florida from david mcree on vimeo. In order to avoid the painful tentacles of these marine animals it s best to observe the warning signs and always check the water before diving in and if there s any. Moon jellyfishes are also know as aurelia aurita scientifically. Photos and descriptions to help you identify jellyfish found on florida beaches.

True jellyfish are single multicellular organisms. Man of war cannonball jelly moon jelly blue buttons by the wind sailor mushroom cap jelly purple jelly and more. University of florida health recommends getting immediate medical attention if you are stung. They are comprised of 95 water possessing no respiratory excretory or circulatory systems.