Dissemination
The moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) is found in all oceans worldwide, but also lives in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea. It is characterised by four rings (the ‘ear marks’) in the almost transparent, gelatinous centre of its umbrella. These are its reproductive organs. The moon jellyfish has a flat, domed umbrella that is approximately 20–30 centimetres in size.
Jellyfish move through the water like ghosts. They move by contracting their umbrellas. Did you know that this species of jellyfish is dependent on tides and currents, as it can only move up and down on its own?
Dangerous tentacles?
If you were to be touched by the tentacles of a jellyfish, it would usually only cause irritation. So they are relatively harmless. But what should you do if your skin suddenly starts to burn after swimming in the sea?
Rinse the wound with salt water and rub wet sand over it, then scrape it off with a shovel or credit card to avoid coming into contact with the stinging cells again. CAUTION: Do not rinse with drinking water, as this usually only makes it worse. Vinegar and baking powder work particularly well, as the acid they contain destroys the poison.
Dangerous confusion!
Delicious jellyfish or plastic bag? Transparent plastic bags floating in the sea resemble jellyfish in shape and movement patterns. Fish and sea turtles mistake this rubbish for the slimy delicacies, get caught in the bags and end up with plastic in their stomachs instead of jellyfish. This causes the fish and turtles to starve to death with full stomachs.
