World Jellyfish Day is 3rd November.
It’s a special day to celebrate the mysterious creatures and think of ways to keep them safe worldwide. At London Sea Life Aquarium there’s a special display for the Barrel jellyfish, the largest jellyfish in the UK. Scientists have found a way to raise jellyfish in a laboratory, which is a world first.
Here are a few interesting facts to celebrate jellyfish:
• The strange creatures are made up of mostly water and have no brains, blood or bones.
• Jellyfish have been around for over 500 million years which is before when dinosaurs existed.
• Some jellyfish have extremely long stingers – such as the lion’s mane jellyfish – which have tentacles that can grow up to 120 feet long!
• Although all jellyfish can sting you, not all jellyfish can harm you.
• The Australian box jellyfish is considered the most venomous marine animal. They may not look dangerous, but the sting from a box jellyfish could be enough to send you to a watery grave.
• The Lion’s Mane Jellyfish is the largest known jellyfish and has a recorded length of 36.6 meters (120 feet). This means that the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish tops the Blue Whale in terms of length!
Although you don’t want to wrap yourself in a jellyfish, they are creatures you could see in the ocean wherever you travel. The mystery that surrounds them despite their fearsome stings makes them truly fascinating!