Moon Jellyfish

Aurelia solida is a captivating jellyfish species belonging to the Ulmaridae family, easily identified by its translucent, saucer-like body typically ranging from 25 to 40 centimeters (10 to 16 inches) in diameter. Distinguished by its four horseshoe-shaped gonads visible through the top of its bell, Aurelia solida is often confused with its common relative, Aurelia aurita. This unique jellyfish exclusively inhabits the warm, saline waters of the 🌊 Red Sea, thriving in conditions of high temperatures and salinity, and is known for forming large groups even in low oxygen environments.

Characterized by short, delicate tentacles that pose no threat to humans due to their mild stings, Aurelia solida primarily feeds on plankton, including molluscs, crustaceans, tunicate larvae, and fish eggs. It also consumes gelatinous zooplankton such as hydromedusae and ctenophores. The jellyfish captures its prey using specialized stinging cells called nematocysts, though its venom is not potent. Aurelia solida moves gracefully through the water, drifting with ocean currents and using rhythmic pulsations of its bell for propulsion.

Aurelia solida lacks complex respiratory, circulatory, or excretory systems, relying on direct oxygen absorption through its thin membrane facilitated by water flow driven by cilia. Its anatomy includes a manubrium and radial canals that help distribute food throughout its body. This species begins life as a microscopic planula larva, settling to become a polyp from which juvenile medusae bud and grow into adults. Remarkably, Aurelia solida can revert to earlier life stages under stress, displaying a resilience akin to the "immortal jellyfish" (Turritopsis dohrnii).

In the 🌊 Red Sea's ecosystem, Aurelia solida is a vital component, serving as a key food source for sea turtles and certain fish species. It also helps control plankton populations and acts as a sensitive indicator of environmental changes, reflecting the overall health of the ocean. This graceful drifter plays an essential role in maintaining the delicate balance of the 🌊 Red Sea, and its mesmerizing presence is a sight to behold, silently dancing with the currents.