What Eats Jellyfish? Here's A List Of Organisms Who Love To Eat Them

Jellyfish, also known famously as jellies, are marine animals that roam around the oceans and seas all around the world.

Jellyfish are the gelatinous member of the phylum Cnidaria and subphylum Medusozoa. Jellyfish are fish who are shaped like an umbrella, swimming freely with the help of various types of tentacles which help them locomote and even catch prey at the same time.

These tentacles have several stinging cells, which can sting any prey who comes into contact with it. Jellyfish also use these tentacles as a defense mechanism to sting any predatory animal that tries to catch them.

There are more than 1,000 species of jellyfish that roam in the oceans, seas, and shallow sea beds all around the world. Jellyfish are one of the most ancient multicellular species to inhabit the Earth. Compared to their long heritage, jellyfish actually live a very short life as these animals tend to grow quickly and die shortly after breeding.

Some of the creatures which are included in a jellyfish’s diet are plankton, organic matter of aquatic plants, crustaceans, microbes, shrimp, and small fish which get caught in their tentacles.

After reading about the sea creatures that feed on jellyfish and other prey animals, also check what eats owls and what do oysters eat.

What eats jellyfish in the ocean?

A few years ago, scientists and several marine life researchers were of the belief that jellies were not a very important part of the marine ecological system.

That belief, however, is slowly changing now due to several pieces of empirical evidence after research conducted by humans about the eating habits of various marine animals.

It was found that several predators hunt and prey on jellyfish, even though jellyfish are made of 95 % water and do not offer any essential nutrition to these predators. Researchers found that several types of marine animals consumed jellyfish regularly, and they even formed an important part of the diet for some.

This happens mainly because jellyfish are very easy to prey on, as these sea creatures cannot swim very quickly, compared to most fish. For example, it was found that penguins actively hunt and seek jellyfish and that it is very much possible that jellyfish might form up to 40 % of the diet in some penguins.

Studies conducted on the diet of albatross examined their feces and concluded that these birds likely had a diet of 20 % of jellyfish.

Next on the list of other animals who eat jellyfish regularly are sea turtles, especially leatherback turtles. Leatherback sea turtles are one of the largest turtles in the ocean, which can grow up to 6 ft (1.8 m) in height.

They are one of the major predators of jellyfish, who regularly eat them as a part of their staple diet.

Other sea turtles like loggerhead sea turtles also prey on jellyfish, especially when they are migrating and do not have a lot of food resources available. The thick cover of the shell of the loggerhead sea turtle tends to protect them from jellyfish stings.

Another fish that is a natural predator of jellyfish is ocean sunfish, which is often described as having a bullet-like shape. These fish are known for being the heaviest bony fish in the world.

This fish uses the filter-feeding technique for eating, and jellyfish generally get ingested. Hence, jellyfish form a primary part of the diet of ocean sunfish, especially moon jellies and comb jellies.

Other jellyfish, especially the ones who are bigger are also known to eat smaller jellyfish if they somehow get caught in the tentacles of the bigger jellies.

Another species, which the researchers found surprising, that eat jellyfish is a fish species called bearded goby, which are native to the ocean around South Africa and Namibia. Scientists found that as the number of food resources declined in some particular areas, these fish depended on jellyfish in order to survive, although they did not prey on jellyfish initially.

Hence, from many such examples like above, scientists and marine life researchers have concluded that jellyfish form a very integral part of the marine food chain and have the potential of becoming a very important key in the marine food chain in case of a decline or disturbance in the marine life cycle.

Do whales eat jellyfish?

Yes. Whales eat their food via a system known as filter feeding, where the food these predators ingest from the ocean goes through a teeth-like organ called baleen, which acts as a filter.

The things which are big enough to be eaten generally get stuck in this filter, but jellyfish do not fit that list. Generally, jellyfish get sucked right into the mouths of whales due to their soft and squishy, gelatinous bodies and are digested easily as well. Hence, jellyfish make easy prey for whales like several other animals.

Do tuna eat jellyfish?

Tuna is a fish that is known for its evading fast speed, which it uses against predators. There are 15 known species of tuna that roam around the ocean in the world.

Like many fish, tuna also appears on the list of fish who eat jellyfish. One species of tuna called the Atlantic bluefin tuna, and is an Endangered species, is known for having a special taste for jellyfish. It can hunt around the marine waters all day for food and loves to find and eat jellyfish.

Do seals eat jellyfish?

Compared to marine animals like penguins, seals do not hunt, prey on, or eat jellyfish.

Seals have a very small mouth, which can hinder them in actually catching a jellyfish or trying to swallow it, as jellyfish can be big and spread themselves into a large shape.

Also, eating jellyfish can prove very dangerous for seals as the tentacles of jellyfish can get caught or stuck in their throats, which can kill them instantly.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what eats jellyfish then why not take a look at what eats seaweed, or Moon Jellyfish facts.