When the name ‘jellyfish’ is mentioned, most of us immediately conjure up images of amorphous, rubbery, and even repulsive creatures that we prefer not to touch. However, it is only when we observe them underwater that they reveal their graceful nature. Throughout their evolutionary journey, jellyfish have developed remarkably clever abilities, enabling them to thrive in various ocean habitats.
To safeguard themselves, jellyfish have evolved weapons that can pose a threat to humans as well. While the majority of jellyfish species are not dangerous, the ‘Box jellyfish’ stands out as the most perilous, closely followed by the Siphonophorae, commonly known as the Portuguese man o’ war. For many, the term ‘jellyfish’ elicits negative emotions, but the term ‘medusa’ is more fitting, evoking a sense of mysterious and dangerous beauty.
In this documentary, Dr. Gerhard Jarms will introduce us to the extraordinary life cycle of these creatures. Contrary to popular belief, jellyfish are smooth, soft, and, perhaps most intriguingly, they have a history spanning 500 million years. Over this extensive period, they have adopted captivating forms and fascinating lifestyles, inhabiting both the depths of the sea and the coastal regions.
While occasional large influxes of medusae occur along the coasts of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, the oceans are not perpetually teeming with jellyfish, despite certain misleading depictions. So, where do medusae come from? How and where do they reproduce? The life cycle of jellyfish, or medusae, is characterized by a transition from one generation to the next and a shift between sessile and free-swimming states.
These gelatinous creatures are composed of 98% water. The duration of a medusa’s life cycle can range from one to thirty years, depending on the species. Throughout this time, they can increase their size by up to 200 times from their initial form.
