4 Reasons to Fear Jellyfish

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4 Good Reasons to Be Afraid . . . of Jellyfish

Brittni Cebulak

Of all of the animals one could fear in life—snakes, spiders, bugs, etc.—would it sound even remotely logical to carry a deathly phobia of jellyfish? Of course, this notion probably sounds bizarre—pathetic, even. However, whether you believe it or not, these floating little creatures can cause quite a disturbance in the natural order of marine life—even going so far as to take the lives of humans. If you are now in further disbelief, I advise you read on. The following are four reasons why any self-respecting human should simultaneously fear and loath jellyfish.

1. Jellyfish are UNATURAL. Jellyfish are living creatures that are lacking both a brain and a heart. How is it even possible that they are alive? Marine Biologists say that the closest thing to a brain that all species of jellyfish have is simply a network of nerves throughout the body.  In theory, due to the fact that they have no brains, they cannot process information; however, many species of jellyfish are able to target, hunt, and kill other fish without many problems. The exact reason behind this still manages to baffle the science world and unnerve the unsuspecting community.

1. Jellyfish can live ANYWHERE. From the most frigid temperatures of theArctic, to the boiling vents of the underground volcanoes on the ocean floor, jellyfish are more than capable of finding themselves a comfortable home; in addition, as was probably already made obvious by the previous statement, jellyfish can live virtually at any depth of the world’s oceans. You simply cannot avoid those squishy little devils.

1. Jellyfish are TAKING OVER the oceans. Some of the world’s most productive fishing locations can no longer be used because of something I like to refer to as the “Jelly Fish Invasion.” What is this? In essence, numerous species of jellyfish are overpopulating the world’s oceans because of their great range of tolerance for numerous and varying living conditions. When this happens, the fishermen/women that catch the fish that is sold to markets around the globe (even the ones we shop at) do not pull up a net full of fish—they reel in JELLYFISH. What happened to the fish you might ask? They were killed by being repeatedly stung by those dastardly, translucent fiends known as jellyfish. Therefore, jellyfish are not only affecting other creatures in the ocean, they are affecting the global economy as well.

1. Box jellyfish will KILL YOU. The final reason why one should fear jellyfish is rather self-explanatory. There is a species of jellyfish called the “Box” jellyfish, and the venom in its tentacles, which can grow to lengths of eight feet, is known to have killed several people every year, especially off of the Australian coast. Box jellyfish are considered the most venomous marine animals in existence, and anti-venom is rarely able to stop the debilitating effects the venom has on a person, which often leads to the eventual death of anyone unfortunate enough to encounter the tentacles of a Box jellyfish.

Are you afraid? If not, then re-read this article and go do some more research on the topic. Jellyfish are an unnatural, overly populated, invasive species that have some potential within their ranks to kill humans and ruin the fishing industry. They are filling up the world’s oceans at an alarming rate, and it is almost impossible for one to wade in the water at a beach without feeling the pang of a jellyfish sting. They are literally heartless creatures, and they have no brain or other internal organs; however, they still manage to cause a great deal of destruction. So, do not fear spiders, snakes, and bugs—all those animals have an anatomy to make sense of their existence. If you are to harbor any fears in your heart, fear the jellyfish.

Source: http://www.jellyfishfacts.net/jellyfish-predators.html