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What is a Moonjelly? |
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(Hint) It's not a jelly fish The
Moonjelly is a small sea creature
about the size of a child's hand. It looks like a blob of clear,
colorless jelly. Its scientific Like true jellyfish, ctenophores are invertebrates and made up mostly of water. But ctenophores are not true jellyfish because they do not have stinging cells. The harmless moonjelly is actually a species of zooplankton. And they are an important food source of Mola Mola, the Ocean Sunfish. The name Ctenophore comes from the Greek word for “comb bearer.” There are eight rows of tiny, hair-like cilia arranged like combs along its sides. The cilia beat together like miniature oars to push ctenophores along. This is unlike true jellyfish which pump their entire bodies to move through the water. Another difference is that true jellyfish have hundreds of tentacles and ctenophores usually have no tentacles at all.
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Why the word "Moonjelly?"
Since the ctenophore is colorless, small and practically invisible during the day it is likely to be overlooked. If it is noticed at all it is usually mistaken for being part of a jelly fish rather than as a complete animal. Many people live by the sea for years and never notice them. For those who really know their sea creatures "Comb Jelly" is the most common name for these discreet creatures. But Mark Shasha called them "Moonjellies" in the 1970's while growing up on the coast in New London, Connecticut. It is not surprising that no one challenged him. He named them for their blue-green flashes of light, which looked to him like moonlight reflecting on and passing through the seawater. Shasha may have been the first to use the term Moonjelly for ctenophores. All of this caused some unintended confusion for some who happened to read "Night of the Moonjellies" when the book was published in the 1992. The jelly of the story fits the description of a Ctenophore. But Moonjelly had not been a widely recognized term for the Ctenophore. In response, a clarification was published in the 10th Anniversary Edition of "Night of the Moonjellies" in 2002. So, a Moonjelly is a Ctenophore. Some still consider the word Moonjelly to be a misnomer or a colloquialism so terms such as "comb jelly" or "sea gooseberry" are still often used in reference to ctenophores. But, with the passage of years, and an expanding readership, Moonjelly is also becoming another name for this creature. Whichever name finally sticks, "Comb Jelly" or "Moonjelly," Mark Shasha is simply glad more people seem to be noticing and appreciating these amazing little animals which make their quiet way through the New England waters in late summer.
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One
More Thing... There is a true jellyfish in the sea with the name “Moon Jellyfish.” Its scientific name is Aurelia Aurita and it is most common in the Pacific Ocean. This true Jellyfish has stinging cells, is often purplish red and can grow very large. This is not the jelly of Mark Shasha's "Night of the Moonjellies." Furthermore, the "Moon Jellyfish," Aurelia Aurita, is not bioluminescent. In other words, it will not glow in the dark or create its own light such as the one in Mark Shasha's book, "Night of the Moonjellies." The "Moon Jellyfish," is also much larger than the harmless Ctenophore featured in Mark Shasha's book.
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name is "Ctenophore" (pronounced tee-ne-for.) 