  Elegant, fascinating and mysterious to watch in the water, these transparent marine wonders, have been around for millions of years swimming in our oceans, even before the dinosaurs! They can be found in cool or warm waters, deep or shallow and along coastlines, as well. They are usually transparent and some may be color pink, yellow, blue and purple, yet another thing that can be magical with these creatures is that some of them are bio-luminescent which means they produce their own light! Isn’t it amazing?
  Jellyfishes are made of 95% water. They do not have brain, blood or even heart! They are made-up of three layers: an external layer, called the epidermis; a center layer made of a elastic, thick, jam like substance called mesoglea; and an internal layer, called the gastrodermis. Its mouth can be found on the center of its body, from this little opening it both eats and disposes of waste. They have tentacles made up of stinging cells which they use to paralyze their prey.
  The life cycle of these simple invertebrates starts as fertilized eggs called the Planula Larva phase, afterwards the larva attached to a hard surface and develops into a polyp, this stage is called the Polyp Stage. Eventually, the polyp will develop asexually by dividing it half repeatedly to produce identical copies. Ephyra larva stage begins as segments detach from the polyp and drift off into the sea. Finally, the jellyfish reaches it’s Medusa Phase where the jellyfish is now a complete adult, it can now release eggs and sperm into the water where the cycle repeats again.
  In Manila Ocean Park, we have been breeding Jellyfish for years. Manila Ocean Park has been very successful not only with breeding Jellyfishes but also penguins, sharks, and stingrays. The Breeding Program is a proof that good practices in animal care and husbandry are in place.
  Visit and be mesmerized at The Jellies Dancing Sea Fairies at Manila Ocean Park!
