Jellyfish - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Did you know?

Cnidaria

No bones, no brains, no teeth, fins or even blood – in fact, jellies are mostly water. But they survive in oceans all over the world, and are mesmerizingly beautiful as well.

Drift with Jellies

Drifting, pulsing

Touch the jelly globe.

Drifting, pulsing, drifting… From golden Pacific sea nettles to translucent white moon jellies, our jelly habitat is captivating. Watch the big jelly globe, constantly streaming up and out.

Giant glass jellyfish

Kait Rhoads' ocean vision.

Just past the Baja Bay habitat, look up – you’ll see three enormous jellyfish hanging from the ceiling, made of hundreds of blown glass pieces. In this sculpture, Seattle artist Kait Rhoads combines imagination with a passion for the ocean.

Read the story

Meet our jellies

Lion's Mane

Blubber jelly

Egg yolk jelly

Moon jelly

Pacific sea nettle

Spotted Lagoon Jelly

Eating (and predators)	Jellies use stinging cells to sting and immobilize prey. The long oral arms begin to digest the prey and bring it to the jelly’s mouth, found under the bell.	Most jellies eat plankton, plus young shrimps, crabs, fish and other jellies. They’re eaten by other fish, and leatherback turtles travel for miles to eat Pacific sea nettles.
Larvae, polyps to medusa	Adult jellies (‘medusa’ form) release sperm and eggs, which combine into free-swimming larvae. These settle onto rocks and grow into a polyp.	Polyps catch zooplankton with their tentacles, developing stacks of frilled discs that break off, drift and grow into adult medusae.
Watch that sting and give a squeeze	Most jellies have mild toxins that don't bother humans. But some can be as painful as bee stings, and a few, like the sea wasp, can be extremely dangerous.	Giving their transparent muscles a synchronized squeeze, a jelly throws its body into a wave to move outward from the bell and push it through the water.

Changing climate

Changing oceans.

THE THREAT: Jellyfish play a vital role in the ocean food chain, eating plankton and giving food to turtles and fish. Their populations are stable – but recently they’ve been “blooming” in unusual places.

TAKE ACTION: Scientists are still studying how human activity and climate change affects jellies. Meanwhile, it is threatening many other ocean animals. Find out how you can help.

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Aquarium Stories

RESTORING THE SOUTH PACIFIC AQUARIUM

After 32 hardworking years, the popular South Pacific Aquarium at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium needs some love. On November 15, the aquarium will close for restoration and repair of critical animal-care structures, habitats and life support systems, to reopen in 2023 with exciting new species, upgraded systems and immersive South Pacific-themed art. “This is … Continued