Lion's Mane Jellyfish Pictures, Facts, Lifecycle, Habitat, Diet

Giant jellyfish and hair jelly are the other names of lion’s mane jellyfish. Lion’s mane jellyfish is considered one of the most famous jellyfish species. These fishes range in the boreal, cold waters of the North Atlantic, Arctic, and Northern Pacific Oceans. Other than these locations, they are commonly found in the Irish Sea, English Channel, North Sea, and in Western Scandinavian waters. Near Australia and New Zealand, a similar species of jellyfish is located. This is the largest recorded specimen. A man named Alexander Agassiz found them in 1865 off the coast of Massachusetts. Lion’s mane jellyfish are found at 42°N latitude.


    Lion’s Mane Jellyfish Facts


    Lion’s mane jellyfish have stinging cells in their tentacles. These cells are helpful in capturing the prey. These cells are called nematocysts. A toxic barb is excreted from the tentacles that snag the prey and kill it. Their sting is severe. If they sting humans, their sting can cause blisters and even heart failure. Their tentacles are hard and mostly avoided to touch. They are once found. No one wants to touch them. They are considered the largest jellyfish in the world. Their bell is almost 8 feet long, and the tentacles attached to it can be more than 100 feet.


    Lion’s Mane Jellyfish Life Cycle


    According to bio-expedition, Lion’s mane jellyfish reproduce either sexually or asexually. Their body contains both sperms and the eggs. They do not require any mate to reproduce. Their young ones emerge in the season of Summer and Autumn. Their life-cycle consists of four main stages. The female lion’s mane jellyfish attach their eggs on tentacles, and here these eggs develop into larvae. After maturity, they are transferred to a hard surface and converted into polyps. The polyps form by asexual reproduction is called ephyrae. Ephyrae divides into individuals and turns into the medusa (next stage). Then they become adults.

    Lion’s Mane Jellyfish Habitat


    Lion’s mane jellyfish like to live in cold water. They cannot be found in tropical regions because of temperature. Their common locations are North Atlantic oceans, the Arctic Ocean, and the North Pacific ocean. They are commonly found in the water between Washington State and Alaska. They are also found in the Oceans of British Columbia. Because of their large size, these fishes cannot swim actively. The water currents take these fishes with them. So their location varies with the flow of water. This kind of large-sized jellyfish cannot be found on the shore. They are common in the open Ocean.

    Lion’s Mane Jellyfish Diet


    Lion’s mane jellyfish survive on multiple things. They like to eat zooplankton, small fish, copepods, moon jellyfish, ctenophores, small shrimp, and rotifers. All these tiny organisms collectively form the optimum diet for the lion’s mane jellyfish. It is a carnivore fish and feeds with opportunity. They entangle their prey with their stingy tentacles. The lion’s mane jellyfish have some natural predators. They easily become prominent to them because of their size and abundant tentacles. The smaller lion’s mane jellyfish may become the food of large fish, sea turtles, and the sea birds. The leatherback turtle only feeds on the jellyfish species.

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