Atolla Jellyfish 

TAXONOMY 

Kingdom- Animalia 

Phylum- Cnidaria

Class- Scyohozoa

Family- Atollidae

Order- Coronate

Genus- Atolla

Species- A. wyvillei

EVOLUTION 

How long?

-Jellyfish fossils have been from the Cambrian period over 500 million years ago

Living relative- Periphylla Periphylla the "Helmet Jellyfish"

Ancestors- Moon and Comb jellyfish.

Subspecies

Atolla salinityi, Atolla zueginata, Atolla chuni, Atolla wyvillei, Atolla vanhoeffeni

DESCRIPTION

Appearance-

-bell shape w a deep red hue

-long tentacles with a single hypertrophied tentactle to aid in protection.

Key Characteristics-

-reproduce asexually

-bioluminescence

-can hide in plain sight

Size & Weight- 0.79-6.85 inches. Relatively light (6g on average)

Life Span- 6 months to a year

Male v Female- hermaphroditic, all jellyfish have male and female reproductive organs: no significant difference

 HABITAT

• Lives in the bathypelagic zone of the ocean (1,000-4,000 m). No sunlight penetrates these depths, giving it the name "Midnight Zone"

There is no living plant life in this layer, and the only other inhabitants are octopi, jellyfish, anglerfish, and hatchetfish. 

Constant temperature of 39°

DISTRIBUTION

• Atolla jellyfish are found all over the globe in the deep ocean.

This species is not invasive, and there is evidence that they are threatened by shrimp.

DIET

• Eats mainly small crustaceans by trapping the prey with its tentacles, particularly the long, extendable one.

*not particularly discerned with what they eat, and grab any prey animal swimming by their tentacles. 

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

• A majority of jellyfish are found in groups known as shoals or swarms.

• Not either female or male led, and some jellyfish are hemaphroditic. Jellyfish also do not have specific roles within their communities. 

• Jellyfish play an important role in the marine ecosystem as a key source of food for some fish and turtles. 

• Interact with eachother through a bodywide network of nerves that communicate with eachother and allow a sense of touch.

REPRODUCTION

• Jellyfish medusae spawn eggs and sperm are released directly into the water, resulting in baby jellyfish.

*Under favorable conditions this will happen once a day, usually synchronized to dusk or dawn. 

*Up to 45,000 eggs in a single night. 

• Begins reproduction once the waters reach about 62° surface level.

• Multiple mates, but females stop mating once their stomachs are full of sperm, and males stop mating when they are completely out of sperm. There are no other specific mating rituals.

DEVELOPMENT 

• 4 Stages of developent 

-Egg: The beginning of the life cycle

-Larvae: Jellyfish is still small and not fully developed

-Polyp: Begins to form tentacles and other features 

-Medusa: Fully developed into adult form.

*Can take anywhere between a few weeks and a few years to reach sexual maturity (varies based on species).

• No distinct male or female sexes. They are hemaphriditic, so when jellyfish reproduce they release sperm and eggs into the water and it gets fertilized.

• Different stages of development for a jellyfish can take place in different parts of the ocean. Stage 1 and 2 take place in the open waters, stage 3 happens on the seafloor or on other rocky surfaces, and stage 4 typically takes place in the open water where jellyfish can swim freely.