The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish belongs to the phylum Cnidaria and the class Scyphozoa, and the family Rhizostomatidae.
It is characterized by its mushroom-like umbrella.
Let’s learn more about it from teketrek.
The Mushroom cap jellyfish facts
The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish does not have any stingers, but it still has stinging cells called cnidocytes.
Mushroom cap jellyfish scientifically is Rhopilema verrilli.
It is considered to be more vibrant and delicate.
The common name Mushroom Cap Jellyfish refers to the medusa shape resembling a mushroom cap.
In many years ago a specimen was found in New Haven Harbor in Connecticut.
The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish has a large number of stinging cells, each with thousands of cnidocytes that carry toxic substances.
When the water is polluted, Mushroom Cap Jellyfish tend to aggregate together, sometimes reaching hundreds or thousands.
The bodies of Mushroom Cap Jellyfish are composed of approximately 95% water, with the remaining percentage being proteins, muscles, and nerves.
The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish Specification
length:The diameter of the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish up to 51 cm.
The body: The body size of the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish is comparable to a flying ball, with its arms longer than its body
The bell: The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish has a gelatinous bell that resembles a mushroom cap and is transparent. The bell can come in various colors like white, light yellow, brown, blue, pink, or green.
The arms:It does not have stingers but has eight oral arms with finger-like projections and filamentous cysts below the middle of the umbrella.
The rhopalia: The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish has 8 rhopalia, which are small pink structures located around the margin of the bell. Each Rhopilema contains a gravity sensor, allowing the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish to know its direction.
The radial canals:The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish also has 8 radial canals.The radial canals form part of the digestive system along with the stomach.
The eyes: The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish has 24 eyes, each consisting of a lens, retina, and cornea. These eyes are arranged in pairs.
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Where are Mushroom Cap Jellyfish found
Mushroom Cap Jellyfish are found throughout the western Atlantic Ocean off the United States and Canada.
It lives along the coast of the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Mushroom Cap Jellyfish have been found in South Carolina and England.
During the fall and early winter seasons, Mushroom Cap Jellyfish may enter the lower Chesapeake Bay.
The Diet of the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish
The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish feeds on small particles of plankton, which are pushed out of its umbrella by the water.
It captures them with its finger-like projections.
The Mushroom Cap Jellyfish is considered a carnivorous species, as it occasionally feeds on small fish, fish eggs, and larvae.
Prey consumed by the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish can be seen in its stomach before the digestion process begins.
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Reproduction Stages and Life Cycle of the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish
The life cycle of the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish alternates between non-sexual polyps and sexual medusa.
However, the class of Mushroom Cap Jellyfish mostly lives in the form of medusa.
The life cycle of the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish begins when an adult medusa lays fertilized eggs, which develop into free-swimming larvae or planulae.
They float until they attach to a solid substrate.
They transform into a polyp called a scyphistoma.
The scyphistoma reproduces asexually through budding and transforms into a strobila.
Each strobila matures into an ephyra, an immature form of a medusa.
When they mature and separate from the other strobilae, the ephyra finally becomes an adult medusa.
Many swimmers are exposed to the sting of the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish, where it injects venom into their bodies.
Some important symptoms of a Mushroom Cap Jellyfish sting include:
· Stomach pain.
· Headache.
· Muscle pain and cramping.
· Nausea, vomiting, weakness, and fatigue.
· Loss of consciousness and difficulty breathing.
· Heart problems.
How to Treat a Sting from a Mushroom Cap Jellyfish
First, rinse the affected area with vinegar and then gently remove the tentacles from the skin.
If the victim has an allergic reaction, CPR should be performed.
In case of any skin rash, the victim should be given an antihistamine.
FAQs about mushroom cap jellyfish
Are mushroom cap jellyfish poisonous?
Although the mushroom and cabbage head jellies have no stinging tentacles, they still have stinging cells within their bells and can produce mild stings to humans. Both jellyfishes are considered delicacies in Japan and are eaten raw or pickled.
How big are mushroom cap jellyfish?
20 inches
What are the facts about the mushroom jellyfish?
They are cnidarian invertebrates distinguished by their mushroom- shaped medusa.The species lacks tentacles but still possesses stinging cells called nematocysts within their bells. These cells can deliver mild stings to humans.
In conclusion, it is important to emphasize the caution around the Mushroom Cap Jellyfish, as its sting can lead to harmful symptoms in the body.
