Mastigias papua etpisoni Jellyfish in Palau

This jellyfish lives in the world-famous Jellyfish Lake in Palau’s Rock Islands. Descended from Mastigias papua jellyfish that live in the open ocean, this individual and others in the lake have lost most of their stinging capability. Within the confines of a small landlocked lake, there is minimal prey. Instead of hunting for food, these jellyfish host colonies of symbiotic algae, which produce food through photosynthesis. The jellyfish obtains sustenance from the algae. There are actually a number of lakes hosting such populations of stingless jellyfish in Palau, but only one is open to the general public.

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Image Size: 5130x3425 / 50.3MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Jellyfish Animalia Cnidaria Scyphozoa Rhizostomeae Mastigiidae Mastigias cf. papua etpisoni Golden Jellyfish Lagoon Jellyfish Spotted Jellyfish Pacific Philippine Sea Caroline Islands Palau Jellyfish Lake Symbiosis Monochrome
Contained in galleries: Marine Life | Palau, Palau

This jellyfish lives in the world-famous Jellyfish Lake in Palau’s Rock Islands. Descended from Mastigias papua jellyfish that live in the open ocean, this individual and others in the lake have lost most of their stinging capability. Within the confines of a small landlocked lake, there is minimal prey. Instead of hunting for food, these jellyfish host colonies of symbiotic algae, which produce food through photosynthesis. The jellyfish obtains sustenance from the algae. There are actually a number of lakes hosting such populations of stingless jellyfish in Palau, but only one is open to the general public.