The cnidarian phylum corresponds to a diverse group of aquatic animals, among which we find those commonly known as jellyfish, inhabitants of marine ecosystems. Jellyfish, also called jellyfish, are characterized by their bell-shaped gelatinous body and, generally, by the presence of stinging tentacles that they use to defend themselves and hunt.
In this tab on our site we present a very particular cnidarian, the lion's mane jellyfish, whose scientific name is Cyanea capillata. We invite you to continue reading to learn more about this emblematic marine animal.
Characteristics of the lion's mane jellyfish
The lion's mane jellyfish is considered the largest jellyfish in the world, although there can be many individual differences in size and, in addition,, it has been determined that the dimensions increase the further north these animals live. The diameter of their bell varies from about 30 cm to 2 meters and they develop tentacles that allow them to reach lengths of more than 30 meters
They usually have a large number of sticky tentacles that are grouped in each of the bell lobes. Its common name is due to the resemblance of the appearance of the tentacles with the mane of a lion. The coloration of the youngest individuals is burnt orange, but as they age it can turn reddish. The color of the bell varies between pink, gold or brownish purple.
As usual in these species, the body of the lion's mane jellyfish is composed of more than 90% water and is radially symmetrical. The bell is characterized by being spherical, having wavy edges and being formed by eight lobes with arms much shorter than the tentacles. Some of these lobes contain the animal's sense organs, such as receptors for balance, odors, or light. Both the tentacles and the upper surface of the body contain nematocysts that the animal uses to inject a stinging toxin
Lion's mane jellyfish habitat
The lion's mane jellyfish lives mainly in cold marine waters Thus, it is distributed throughout the Arctic Ocean and the regions of the north of both the Atlantic and the Pacific. Although it may be a little further south than the regions mentioned, it is a species that does not usually tolerate warm waters, so it is not common to find it towards the south.
It usually develops in the Atlantic area of Canada and the United States, in Norway, the B altic Sea and the English Channel, as well as in the eastern part of Great Britain and, in general, in the northern waters. Although the presence of jellyfish with an appearance similar to the lion's mane has been reported in Oceania, it remains to be confirmed whether or not it is the same species.
Customs of the Lion's Mane Jellyfish
The lion's mane jellyfish is used to being in constant motion and can travel long distances thanks to the fact that it manages to swim with the help of the Ocean currents. It is only found on the seabed in the polyp phase. Afterward, most of their life is in open water near the surface and sometimes in near-shore areas. It is usually of solitary habits, but, eventually, it can group with other individuals and swim together. In the adult phase it does not usually dive deeper than 20 meters. As it nears the end of its life, it tends to wander and stay in shallow places.
The lion's mane jellyfish is not an animal that seeks to attack humans and its toxin, while stinging, is not lethal. However, there are records of accidents that may pose a risk to sensitive people.
Lion's mane jellyfish feeding
The lion's mane jellyfish is a hunting animal that actively seeks out its prey. This cnidarian bases its diet mainly on fish, which it captures with its tentacles and stuns by inoculating a toxic substance through the nematocysts. It can also consume other smaller jellyfish, zooplankton and ctenophores or comb jellyfish.
Lion's mane jellyfish reproduction
Like many other jellyfish, the lion's mane exhibits two types of reproduction, one sexual and the other asexual. In sexual reproduction differentiated individuals are distinguished. Both the male and the female release their sexual cells to the outside, where they are fertilized. Subsequently, the eggs are sheltered in the oral tentacles until the planula larvae are formed, which will settle in the marine substrate to develop into a polyp.
The asexual phase of the jellyfish occurs as soon as the polyp is formed, which divides horizontally, a process known as strobilation. After the formation of several discs, the upper one comes off, giving rise to the form called ephyra, which will later become the adult jellyfish. Therefore, the lion's mane jellyfish goes through four phases, which are larva, polyp, ephyra, and medusa
Young individuals, still small in size, are the ones at risk of being eaten by their natural predators, such as turtles, fish and seabirds. Once they grow, it is very difficult for them to be attacked by other species, thanks to the good defense provided by their large size and the toxin they produce.
Learn more about Jellyfish Reproduction in this article.
Conservation status of the lion's mane jellyfish
There are no reports indicating that the population status of the lion's mane jellyfish is of concern. However, due to temperature variations resulting from climate change, it is not unreasonable to think that, in the future, this animal may be affected by this cause.
To learn more about the effects of climate change on animals, we recommend you read our article The animals most affected by climate change.
