Jellyfish Day 2023: FAQs, Dates, Activities, History, and Facts About jellyfish

Jellyfish Day 2023: On November 3, all jellyfish enthusiasts are invited to witness a tentacle display; this day is dedicated to you. It is a day to honor the enigmatic and exquisite invertebrate known as a “jellyfish.” In addition to appreciating everything this beautiful marine creature that is not truly a fish has to offer, this day encourages individuals to learn more about it and then share this knowledge with the world.

The History of Jellyfish Day

Jellyfish, an order of marine invertebrates, have existed for an exceptionally lengthy period of time—even longer than the dinosaurs. The scientific community has long held the belief that jellyfish originated approximately 500 million years ago. This theory was validated in 2007 when fossils of 505-million-year-old jellyfish were unearthed in Utah, United States. This discovery was especially astounding given that jellyfish, being devoid of obvious skeletal structure, seldom exhibit signs of their presence in contrast to other animal species.

Jellyfish have consistently perplexed observers, owing to the unique configurations of their bodies. Early scientists were so perplexed by these creatures’ largely transparent bodies, wiry tentacles, and lack of bodily organs that they were unable to even classify them—at a time when the only categories were vegetation, animals, and humans. Although jellyfish were not classified as vegetation, they also failed to meet the criteria for animals. The international community merely labeled them as “incomplete” and refrained from further investigation, at least until the invention of the microscope. Naturalists were compelled to reevaluate their categories and devise new definitions for each ‘incomplete’ organism that failed to cleanly fit into any of the categories they had established.

However, the jellyfish did not gain recognition until 1859, when Charles Darwin proposed his theory of evolution, according to which “all living things undergo variation in physical traits over time as a result of natural selection.” Subsequently, in 1866, Ernst Haeckel, a German naturalist and zoologist, authored “Generelle Morphologie der Organismen,” an ouvrage that was rendered as “General Morphology of Organisms.” He used illustrations of the evolution of numerous organisms, including jellyfish, to demonstrate how primitive animal forms evolved into the familiar varieties we recognize today. He postulated that jellyfish diverged from the rest of the organisms at a previous time, which explains their dissimilar appearance in comparison to other species.

Ever since the world initiated research on the species, it has not turned back. We are reassessing the application of the word ‘fish’ in the moniker ‘jellyfish’ concurrently. ‘Fish’ is a common synonym for animals possessing a backbone; scientists now occasionally refer to them as ‘jellies’ as well. Due to its minimal oxygen requirements, this (somewhat) invasive species has flourished and survived nearly everywhere in the world today. They have the ability to thrive in any type of water, consume a wide variety of foods, reproduce rapidly, and diminish when food supplies run low, only to regain their strength when food becomes abundant again.

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FAQs on Jellyfish Day 2023

Why are they referred to as “jellyfish”?

Jellyfish have been the common name for these marine organisms since the 1700s. An etymology can be traced back to their nomenclature, which is derived from the Proto-Indo-European ‘pisk,’ which signifies “a fish, an aquatic animal.”

Are jellyfish capable of immortality?

Although most jellyfish only have a few-month lifespan, one species of jellyfish appears to have an indefinite life span. Turritopsis dohrnii has the ability to regenerate to its nascent stage of development, analogous to a human regressing to infancy, following any form of illness or trauma, and subsequently resumes the complete life cycle.

May we consume jellyfish?

A jellyfish diet has been observed to be popular throughout the world, particularly in Southeast Asia. They are edible when boiled, shredded, or thinly cut, among other ways.

Day of Jellyfish Activities

Observe an aquarium

Locate and visit the jellyfish exhibits at local zoos and aquariums. Major events are sometimes held at aquariums around the world on this day; if available, you can view the schedule online.

More information about jellyfish

Over the years, these invertebrates have been extensively covered in books, documentaries, and television programs. Select a few that pique your interest and settle in to learn more about this brilliant creature.

Embrace jellyfish in your household.

Why take pleasure in studying these astounding evolutionary marvels by yourself? Discuss jellyfish in diverse forms with your close acquaintances, and disseminate information regarding Jellyfish Day to enable others to partake in the festivities as well.

Five remarkable facts about jellyfish

95% of jellyfish are water.

Mesoglea is a water-based substance that encompasses its structural proteins, muscles, and nerves.

They refer to their bodies as chimes.

The muscles of the jellyfish contract and unwind in response to the bell in order to propel it.

They are quite lovely.

Jellyfish are found in a variety of hues, including transparent, pink, red, yellow, purple, and blue. Approximately half of the global jellyfish population exhibits bioluminescence, a physical characteristic that causes them to glow brilliantly.

A highly poisonous cephalopod

The venom of the ‘Malo kingi’ or ‘common kingslayer’ jellyfish, which is less than the size of a human fingernail, is among the most potent in the world.

Juventus is extracted for its collagen.

Jellyfish collagen exhibits remarkable compatibility with the majority of cell types, rendering it highly suitable for a variety of medical applications, such as wound healing and rheumatoid arthritis treatment.