The Delicate Moon Jellyfish

The translucent organisms floating gracefully are Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita). Over my thirty-year career, I have observed that few creatures embody the delicate rhythm of the ocean quite like them. Their soft, gelatinous bodies and rhythmic pulsations propel them through the water with effortless motion. The most distinctive feature of this species is the four horseshoe-shaped gonads visible through the top of their bell, resembling a four-leaf clover.

Moon Jellyfish are a common species in temperate coastal waters worldwide. They are not considered a highly venomous species, and their small tentacles are used to filter and trap small plankton from the water. Their beautiful, almost ethereal appearance and gentle movements make them a common subject of study in public aquariums and marine research facilities.