The Aurelia aurita is a jellyfish that belongs to the scyphozoa class. Due to its characteristics, it is the exemplary model of this class. It was described by Carlos Linnaeus in 1758 and is one of the most abundant jellyfish species on the planet. This animal is also known as moon jellyfish or saucer jellyfish (because of its shape).
Although there are many data and information on Aurelia aurita, there are still many aspects that remain to be elucidated and discovered about her. Every day there are more studies being carried out on it and its relevant aspects, such as its toxin and its bioluminescence, among others.
Specimens of Aurelia aurita. Source: No machine-readable author provided. Yosemite ~ commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims).
Taxonomy
The taxonomic classification of Aurelia aurita is as follows:
- Eucarya domain.
- Animalia Kingdom.
- Cnidaria phylum.
- Class scyphozoa.
- Order semaeostomeae.
- Family ulmaceae.
- Genus Aurelia.
- Aurelia aurita species.
characteristics
Feeding
Aurelia aurita is a carnivorous organism that feeds mainly on zooplankton. Apart from this, it also feeds on small animals such as crustaceans, mollusks and fish. There have even been cases of jellyfish that feed on other jellyfish of the same species, but smaller.
The tentacles play an important role in the capture and immobilization of the prey, since thanks to the cnidocytes they secrete their toxin and inoculate it to the prey. Later, the prey is guided towards the mouth of the jellyfish, from where it passes to the stomach. There it is processed thanks to the digestive enzymes that are secreted in it.
Once the nutrients are absorbed, the waste is released through the mouth. Specialists have determined that Aurelia aurita is capable of assimilating carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
References
- Curtis, H., Barnes, S., Schneck, A. and Massarini, A. (2008). Biology. Editorial Médica Panamericana. 7th edition.
- Gold, D., Katsuki, T., Li, Y. and Yan, Xifeng. (2019). The genome of the jellyfish Aurelia and the evolution of animal complexity. 3v (1).
- Hickman, CP, Roberts, LS, Larson, A., Ober, WC, & Garrison, C. (2001). Integrated principles of zoology (Vol. 15). McGraw-Hill.
- Miyake, H., Terazaki, M. and Kakinua, Y. (2002). On the polyps of the common jellyfish Aurelia aurita in Kagoshima Bay. Journal of oceanography. 58 (3)
- Rodriguez, R (1999). Aurelia aurita. Michigan: University of Michigan.