# Aurelia aurita The moon jellyfish is a beautiful sea creature with a soft, jelly-like body. It glows in the water and can be found floating in oceans around the world. They are harmless and fascinating to watch! - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Moon Jellyfish ![Aurelia aurita](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Moon_Jellyfish_%2814278816210%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Paul VanDerWerf from Brunswick, Maine, USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moon_Jellyfish_%2814278816210%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Aurelia aurita is a delicate insect with a flattened, almost circular body that can appear translucent or pale blue. Its four large, iridescent wings are marked with subtle concentric rings, setting it apart from other flying insects. It possesses long, slender antennae. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Cnidaria - **Class:** Scyphozoa - **Order:** Semaeostomeae - **Family:** Ulmaridae - **Genus:** Aurelia ## Interesting facts - Even without a brain, Aurelia aurita can navigate long distances using Earth's magnetic field! - If threatened, this insect can squirt a glowing, harmless liquid to confuse attackers! - They lay their eggs in a special silk pouch, which then floats like a tiny boat! - This insect can 'smell' flowers from over a kilometer away using its super-sensitive antennae! ## Special abilities - **Chameleon Camouflage:** Aurelia aurita can subtly shift its body coloration to match its surroundings, because of special skin cells that help them hide from predators. - **Luminous Glow:** Aurelia aurita has bio-luminescent patches on its wings that help them attract mates or warn off rivals in low light conditions. - **Sonic Sensing:** Aurelia aurita can detect faint vibrations in the air using specialized hairs, that helps them sense approaching predators or prey. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-60 mm - **Size:** 15-30 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-120 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Aurelia aurita sips nectar from flowers and enjoys juicy aphids, keeping plants healthy. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on decaying plant matter, while adults prefer nectar and small insects. - **Primary Foods:** flower nectar, tree sap, aphids, pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Red Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-clover) (*Trifolium pratense*) — Helps reproduce by carrying pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Provides a food source for birds. - **Hunts:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Preys on these common garden pests. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Glowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/glowing): Pertaining to organisms that emit light through bioluminescence or fluorescence. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay at a safe distance from jellyfish when swimming. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Aurelia aurita? Compare body symmetry, shells, segments, legs, tentacles and how the animal moves. Invertebrates span many unrelated groups, so start with body structure. Invertebrate Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Aurelia aurita's wingspan? 30-60 mm ### How big is Aurelia aurita? 15-30 mm ### How long does Aurelia aurita live? 60-120 days ### How fast can Aurelia aurita fly? 15 km/h ### What does Aurelia aurita eat? Aurelia aurita sips nectar from flowers and enjoys juicy aphids, keeping plants healthy. ### Where is Aurelia aurita usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Aurelia aurita hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Dallas World Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dallas-world-aquarium) — Texas, US · Aquarium - [Shedd Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shedd-aquarium) — Illinois, US · Aquarium - [Greater Cleveland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greater-cleveland-aquarium) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sea-life-minnesota-aquarium) — Minnesota, US · Zoo - [South Carolina Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-carolina-aquarium-us) — US · Zoo - [Tennessee Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tennessee-aquarium-tennessee) — Tennessee, US · Aquarium [View all places to see Aurelia aurita](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/aurelia-aurita) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Aurelia aurita: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aurelia-aurita)