25 stunning photos of jellyfish in honor of World Jellyfish Day

Canela LópezOct 26, 2019, 18:18 IST

Marisa Vega Photographer/Getty Images

November 3 marks World Jellyfish Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about these vibrant invertebrates.
Despite their soft appearance, some of these creatures can have a powerful and painful sting.
Here are 25 stunning images of these colorful creatures in honor of National Jellyfish Day.
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Jiggly, colorful, and vaguely transparent, jellyfish are a fan favorite at any aquarium - not to mention they make a fantastic screensaver.

The invertebrate is so popular, there's an entire day dedicated to raising awareness about jellyfish on November 3, fittingly called World Jellyfish Day.

In honor of the holiday, here are 25 stunning images and facts about these incredible creatures.

See 25 stunning photos of jellyfish in honor of World Jellyfish Day >>

Despite their name, jellyfish aren't fish as all. They're actually invertebrates.

Source: National Geographic

In their young stage of development, jellyfish are called polyps and will sometimes form colonies.

Source: ThoughtCo.com

While the Portuguese man o' war has similar aesthetic qualities to jellyfish and is also an invertebrate, it isn't a true jellyfish.

Source: Mental Floss

Because jellyfish are invertebrates, they don't have any bones. They're also lacking a brain and a heart.

Source: Smithsonian

The little creatures have caused nuclear power plants to briefly shut down in Sweden, Scotland, the US, and other places by clogging their cooling systems. Though the incidents usually take less than a day to clear up, they can hold up the production of energy at the power plants.

Source: Mental Floss, National Geographic

The nervous system of a jellyfish is the most simplistic in the animal kingdom, in part because of its lack of a brain.

Source: Mental Floss

Jellyfish can asexually reproduce — meaning they don't necessarily need a mate to have babies.

Source: Mental Floss

A group of jellyfish can be called a "smack," though "swarm" is the more common term.

Source: Mental Floss

Over 60,000 jellyfish have lived in space, thanks to an experiment in which polyps were launched into outer space to test how they reacted to the lack of gravity.

Source: Business Insider

Because it can return to its polyp phase at will, the Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish is thought to be theoretically immortal.

Source: Business Insider

Jellyfish can range from sizes bigger than 2 meters in diameter …

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

... to less than 2 centimeters in diameter.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

A jellyfish diet can consist of fish, shrimp, and small plants.

Source: Business Insider

Some jellyfish can glow in the dark.

Source: Business Insider

Jellyfish live all over the world and are found in every ocean.

Source: Business Insider

Over 2,000 species of jellyfish have been discovered.

Source: World Atlas

All jellyfish sting, but some pack more of a punch then others. Some species like the Irukandji jellyfish are known for their painful, barbed stings.

Sources: Conservation Institute

Meanwhile, the sting of a box jellyfish can kill an adult human.

Source: Business Insider

Jellyfish can even sting you after they're dead.

Source: Mental Floss

It's a common misconception that peeing on a jellyfish sting can relieve the pain. In reality, it won't do anything to the wound.

Source: Business Insider

A jellyfish's glow can help protect it from predators.

Source: Business Insider

Overall, these squishy animals are unique, ancient, and beautiful. There's plenty to admire about jellyfish — just make sure to watch your step if you see one.

Source: Business Insider

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25 stunning photos of jellyfish in honor of World Jellyfish Day

Despite their name, jellyfish aren't fish as all. They're actually invertebrates.

In their young stage of development, jellyfish are called polyps and will sometimes form colonies.

While the Portuguese man o' war has similar aesthetic qualities to jellyfish and is also an invertebrate, it isn't a true jellyfish.

The bodies of jellyfish are 95% water.

The life span of most jellyfish ranges from a few hours to a few months.

Some evidence suggests that jellyfish were around prior to the dinosaurs.

Because jellyfish are invertebrates, they don't have any bones. They're also lacking a brain​ and a heart.

The little creatures have caused nuclear power plants to briefly shut down in Sweden, Scotland,​ the US, and other places by clogging their cooling systems. Though the incidents usually take less than a day to clear up, they can hold up the production of energy at the power plants.

The nervous system of a jellyfish is the most simplistic​ in the animal kingdom, in part because of its lack of a brain.

Jellyfish can asexually reproduce — meaning they don't necessarily​ need a mate to have babies.

A group of jellyfish can be called a "smack," though "swarm" is the more common term.

Over 60,000 jellyfish have lived in space, thanks to an experiment in which polyps were launched into outer space to test how they reacted to the lack of gravity.

Because it can return to its polyp phase at will, the Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish is thought to be theoretically immortal.

Jellyfish can range from sizes bigger than 2 meters in diameter …

... to less than 2 centimeters in diameter.

A jellyfish diet can consist of fish, shrimp, and small plants.

Some jellyfish can glow in the dark.

Jellyfish live all over the world and are found in every ocean.

Over 2,000 species of jellyfish have been discovered.

All jellyfish sting, but some pack more of a punch then others. Some species like the Irukandji jellyfish are known for their painful, barbed stings.

Meanwhile, the sting of a box jellyfish can kill an adult human.

Jellyfish can even sting you after they're dead.

It's a common misconception that peeing on a jellyfish sting can relieve the pain. In reality, it won't do anything to the wound.

A jellyfish's glow can help protect it from predators.

Overall, these squishy animals are unique, ancient, and beautiful. There's plenty to admire about jellyfish — just make sure to watch your step if you see one.

Because jellyfish are invertebrates, they don't have any bones. They're also lacking a brain and a heart.

The little creatures have caused nuclear power plants to briefly shut down in Sweden, Scotland, the US, and other places by clogging their cooling systems. Though the incidents usually take less than a day to clear up, they can hold up the production of energy at the power plants.

The nervous system of a jellyfish is the most simplistic in the animal kingdom, in part because of its lack of a brain.

Jellyfish can asexually reproduce — meaning they don't necessarily need a mate to have babies.