Stinging Grip

Like a typical jelly, the tentacles of Haliscera biglowi trail behind it as it moves, causing water flow to push small organisms into the path of the jelly’s deadly stinging grip.
(© 2015 KJ Osborn, Smithsonian )

Like a typical jelly, the tentacles of Haliscera biglowi trail behind it as it moves, causing water flow to push small organisms into the path of the jelly’s deadly stinging grip. Like many midwater animals, this jelly’s stomach is red to prevent it from glowing when it eats bioluminescent prey. Although large jellies are most well-known, tiny jellies like this one, which is only about 1 inch (3 cm) in diameter, are extremely common. See more images of mid-water creatures in our slideshow.