Nemopilema nomurai is also known as the Nomura’s Jellyfish. Jellyfish are one of the first early life forms. Though its name says fish it’s not actually a fish, they are related to the coral. They don’t attach to rocks like coral, their free-floating animals. Some look like they have eyes, but they don’t. They also have no brain. Their bodies are at least 94% water. They also have no respiratory system. The jellyfish’s mouth is also their anus. This jellyfish weighs about 440-450 pounds. And can grow to about 6.5 feet. Their color is gray with pinkish brown tentacles.

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This jellyfish is one of the largest of the jellyfish species. The Nomura Jellyfish are found in the waters of China, Korea, and mostly Japan. Most jellyfish live in shallow waters, but they can survive down to 12,000 ft. They do this to conserve energy and avoid predators. Jellyfish may be taking over the ocean because they can survive in less oxygen-rich water than their predators. Although many jellyfish get caught in Japanese fishing nets, they do very well in their ecosystem. In the past years, Nomura’s have increased. No one is sure as to how many there are. The population is said to be growing. Japan has tried to deal with these vicious creatures because they have been cutting off Japan’s food supply.

 

The Nomura’s eat plankton that they catch with their tentacles. This jellyfish can eat large crustaceans. Their poison is very deadly, because of their delicate bodies, they need to kill their prey instantly with their barbed harpoons that inject poison with the lightest touch.

 

Their predators are swordfish, tuna, sunfish, leatherback turtles, and us, humans. An interesting fact about the jellyfish is the way a man eats them. Chinese eat them with sesame oil and onions. Vietnamese eat them with red chili peppers, in Korea with mustard, and in Thailand as a noodle. We Americans think they taste like “snot”. I learned this is one huge jellyfish that I would never want to come in contact with.

 

 

Author: Aaron B

Published: 02/2008

 

Sources: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=25306 http://www.ionchannels.org/showabstract.php?pmid=17069996 http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1768900 Natural History (book)

 

Photo Credit: Asahi Shimbun http://www.smartplanet.es/galeria.php?id=106&pageNum_ctaimg=