ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Features → Natural Sciences → Animals → Invertebrates

Featured Creature: The Fried Egg Jellyfish

It's time for some marine eye candy - "Fried Egg Jellyfish" exist, and they're really amazing!

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
October 28, 2015 - Updated on April 30, 2023
in Features, Invertebrates
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

The different types of electromagnetic radiation: from radio waves to gamma rays, according to experts
Meteorites may have seeded life in Darwin’s ‘warm little ponds’
Yuri Gagarin’s historic first space flight recreated on video
Black hole pair in star cluster defy scientific expectations

Jellyfish really are some of the most surprising creatures on the planet. Just look at it.

Image via Flickr.

The so-called “Fried Egg Jellyfish” (it’s easy to see why) are actually two different species, that have very little in common except for their appearance. Phacellophora camtschatica and Cotylorhiza tuberculata live in different areas, have different features, and they like different things.

Phacellophora camtschatica is a very large jellyfish, with a bell up to 60 cm (2 ft) in diameter and sixteen clusters of up to a few dozen tentacles, each up to 6 meters (20 ft) long! It can be found in most of the world’s oceans, feeding on other jellyfish and zooplankton. Its sting is very weak – so weak that some crustaceans ride on its bell and steal food from its oral arms and tentacles. Young jackfish often can be found swimming among their tentacles.

Image via Flickr, creative commons.
Image via Flickr, creative commons.

However, because it specializes in capturing and eating jellyfish that can’t move on their own, its tentacles are more sticky. Some plants and turtles eat this fried egg jellyfish, and they often mistake plastic bags for it, eating the plastic, with damaging effects on their health. Think about that when you use plastic bags.

Image via Flickr, creative commons.

Cotylorhiza tuberculata on the other hand is much smaller, only rarely reaching over 30 cm, usually remaining under 17 cm. It prefers the warm waters of the Mediterranean sea, and unlike most jellyfish it can swim on its own, without relying on currents.

Image via Wikipedia.
Image via Wikipedia.

This species feeds on microplankton and has eight oral arms which are brittle, short and fused proximally. Numerous blue or purple-tipped appendages are located between each of the oral arms. These colors are due to the presence of unicellular symbiotic algae (zooxanthelle). Its sting is not harmful to humans.

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Health

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

byTibi Puiu
2 days ago
Anthropology

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

byTudor Tarita
2 days ago
Biology

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

byTudor Tarita
2 days ago
News

This $8750 Watch Was Designed for Space and Could Finally Replace Apollo-era Omega Watches

byTudor Tarita
2 days ago

Recent news

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

July 4, 2025

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

July 4, 2025

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

July 4, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.