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Discover the Unbelievable: Top 6 Fun Facts About the Mysterious Box Jellyfish!

illustration of box-jellyfish
Dive into the fascinating world of box jellyfish and uncover the intriguing, lesser-known quirks of these squishy, transparent, and oh-so enigmatic creatures!

1. Box Jellyfish Night Vision Goggles

Who needs night vision goggles when you can be a box jellyfish: These extraordinary creatures are the only jellyfish that come equipped with eyes and the ability to actively swim in search of their prey, making them far from your run-of-the-mill passive drifters. Sporting clusters of eyes adorning each side of their boxy exterior, some even possess advanced features such as a cornea and lens, putting some superheroes to shame. So, if you find yourself frolicking in their warm coastal stomping grounds, remember to give these intriguing (and slightly terrifying) underwater wonders a nod of respect!
Source => oceanservice.noaa.gov

2. Eyes on the Prize

It seems that box jellyfish took the saying "keep your eyes on the prize" quite seriously, as they've evolved into an underwater entourage of floating, semi-transparent eyeballs: Surprise - these gelatinous beauties boast up to 24 eyes, complete with corneas and retinas, allowing them to skillfully detect light, see, and navigate around objects like tiny underwater superheroes!
Source => dan.org

3. Underwater Kaleidoscope Vision

Who needs rose-tinted glasses when you're a box jellyfish? These gelatinous critters have the ultimate kaleidoscope vision with a whopping 24 eyes!: In fact, they possess four clusters of eyes, called rhopalia, each with six light-sensing organs that detect light, color, and movement – even UV light. Boasting corneas, lenses, and retinas, these sophisticated peepers enable box jellyfish to spot prey and potential predators, leaving other jellyfish species wallowing in optical envy.
Source => nature.com

4. Peekaboo Paradox

When box jellyfish play peekaboo, it's hard to tell who's more in the dark: their 24 eyes aren't much help without a brain to process what they see, making them a real walking – or swimming – paradox! Alas, their peepers excel mainly at sensing light and darkness, as these curious jellies can actively swim up to 4 knots and have a penchant for cruising slower during the day, likely conserving their energy for nocturnal adventures.
Source => animaldiversity.org

Jellyfish Shutterbugs

5. Jellyfish Shutterbugs

Who knew box jellyfish could give professional photographers a run for their money with their high-tech ocular gear? These gelatinous shutterbugs are far from one-trick ponies: Box jellyfish actually possess true eyes, complete with corneas, retinas, and lenses, as well as simple eyes for detecting light and dark. These eye clusters, called rhopalia, equip them with an advanced sensory ability to spot specific points of light, allowing for impressive obstacle avoidance and fast directional swimming skills.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Speedy Water-jet Jellies

Swimming like a fish out of H2O: Box jellyfish, notorious for their perilous stings, also boast formidable swimming skills, clocking speeds of 7.5 kilometers per hour through a clever water-jet propulsion system – highly efficient, yet completely devoid of Speedos or swim caps.
Source => trishansoz.com

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