Why Do Jellyfish Sting?

However, it is these tentacles that make them so dangerous, for on them are stinging cells called nematocysts. When the umbrella-like jellyfish moves through the water, its tentacles drift along behind it. Jellyfish do not attack their prey rapidly like sharks and other fish. They might slowly propel themselves along, but usually they lie in wait for sea creatures to come to them. Whatever living thing they touch, they sting.

All of the 200 varieties of jellyfish have stinging ability, which they use to paralyze the prey that comes within touch of their tentacles. The poison from the nematocysts of the jellyfish varies with the species. Some stings are very harmful to humans, while others will merely cause skin irritation.

Jellyfish are among the most dangerous creatures of the ocean. It is hard to realize this from their looks, for they appear to be nothing more than near-transparent blobs with long, dangling tentacles.

The deadliest jellyfish, the sea wasp, has a poison which can kill a person in 20 minutes by paralyzing the heart!

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10 Comments

  1. Nicole
    Posted 2008/12/31 at 3:12 pm | Permalink

    One day i went to the beach with some of my friends. While bathing i got stung by a jellyfish. Thank God it wasnt a harmful one. All my friends were concered and asked why i wasnt b rought ot a hospital. Now i read this article i realize how lucky i was!!!

    • joseph
      Posted 2010/03/15 at 5:26 pm | Permalink

      im doing a science procject about a man of war jellfish!

      • joseph
        Posted 2010/03/15 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

        man of war jellyfish are ugly when in humen contact!but they are prity you know.

  2. ?????
    Posted 2009/01/23 at 3:25 am | Permalink

    This is actually quite scary

  3. Crystal
    Posted 2009/03/03 at 5:03 pm | Permalink

    Yes they sting and it hurts

  4. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/06/22 at 5:10 pm | Permalink

    I got stung

  5. Savy
    Posted 2010/02/24 at 6:17 pm | Permalink

    i am doing a project for science and i learned that a jellyfish is part of the sponge group.

  6. no_name
    Posted 2010/03/09 at 8:12 am | Permalink

    i went to th beach and got stung

  7. cindy
    Posted 2010/03/17 at 6:38 am | Permalink

    when jellyfish sting it does not hurt cause i am reading the article while i type and it is perfectlyfine so chill out

  8. chandler
    Posted 2010/03/17 at 6:40 am | Permalink

    jellyfish are cool

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