These organisms play an important role in the marine ecosystem.
Jellyfish every summer become a nuisance for swimmers. The authorities recommend not bathing on the beach to avoid being stung. As explained by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, they have stinging cells called cnidocysts. These cells contain a poison that is inoculated into prey mainly through a filament equipped with spines. By simple contact with the prey, the cells fire and “sting”.
The reasons why you should not take them out of the water
The main reason why you should not remove these ‘fried egg’ jellyfish from their natural habitat and destroy them is that they are living beings and are an important part of the marine ecosystem. They fulfill a vital function in the marine food chain, since they are the food of turtles, tuna, sharks or penguins, among others. It is one of the oldest organisms on our planet and there are records of jellyfish over 500 million years old.
But it is that they also become a refuge for fingerlings of horse mackerel, amberjack, salemas and bogas, among others. These young fish are immune to its poison and find in jellyfish a way to hide from other predators and go unnoticed. Therefore, it is common that you can see them surrounded by fry. The Foundation points out that they also use their tentacles to take advantage of what the jellyfish have hunted for food.
Also, it is not a dangerous species. Yes, they can cause bites, but it is a minor temporary injury. Its tentacles have little toxicity compared to other more dangerous jellyfish.
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