Book 30, Question 69
Are there jellyfish in lakes?
Yes, a tiny freshwater jellyfish lives in some lakes, ponds, and old quarries.
It is about the size of a coin, clear, and drifts in late summer. People usually only notice it in some years, because the animals show up unpredictably. Its tentacles catch tiny plankton, but it is harmless to people. Its young stage is a small polyp attached to a surface.
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Quick answers
Are there jellyfish in lakes?
Craspedacusta sowerbii , also known as the peach blossom jellyfish, is the only known species of freshwater jellyfish.
Source: National Park Service
More fun facts
- The freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii is an introduced jellyfish that lives in Missouri.
- Freshwater jellyfish have a fringe of up to 400 tentacles lining the edge of their bodies.
- The four gonads are visible as curved, white, opaque patches on the bell-shaped body of this freshwater jellyfish.
- The most dominant form of the Freshwater Jellyfish’s life cycle is the polyp form which is tiny, attached to a surface, and can persist throughout the year.
- Sightings are mostly concentrated in the eastern United States, but nearly all states have reported Freshwater Jellyfish sightings, with the exception of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Sources: mdc.mo.gov, Penn State
Questions kids ask
How big are freshwater jellyfish?
Freshwater jellyfish are typically about the size of a penny.
Source: National Park Service