What Are Jellyfish Made Of?

Jellyfish possess an anatomy utterly distinct from any other ocean dweller. Composed of around 95% water, their translucent, ghostlike forms defy conventional biology with their unique buoyancy. Instead of rigid skeletons, flexible collagen fibers crisscross their gelatinous bodies, providing both structure and fluidity. Jellyfish rely on microscopic stinging cells laden with venom to subdue prey, despite lacking sophisticated hunting capabilities. Their basic cellular makeup, with units dedicated to digestion and immune defense, resembles a coordinated microbial community more than a complex animal. This alien-like design has persisted for over 500 million years, even preceding the emergence of vertebrates, hinting that the cosmic origins of life may be encoded within these ethereal, drifting oddities.
Credit:
Rhizostomites admirandus (fossil jellyfish)
James St. John, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
#oceanlife #marinelife #animalfacts #animaltrivia #wildanimals