The Milky Jellyfish (Chrysaora lactea) is a soft-bodied, invertebrate sea nettle in the Pelagiidae family of marine (saltwater) jellyfish. An invertebrate is an animal with no bones.

The Milky Jellyfish has a translucent (see-through) bell-shaped or umbrella-shaped dome body. It has short tentacles (limbs) with short arms. It has no bones, no brain, no heart, no blood, no excretory system, and no gills or lungs. It has nerve receptors in its body that enables it to detect smell, light, pressure, and touch. It is about 98% water.

It grows to about 25 centimetres (10 inches) long and 30 centimetres (12 inches) wide. 

The Milky Jellyfish is native to the Atlantic coast of South America. It prefers warm waters with currents (not still waters). It pulsates through the water and drifts with the ocean currents and tides.

It feeds on fish eggs and marine organisms, such as zooplankton. The stingers on its tentacles paralyze its prey. It uses an arm to bring the food to its mouth. 

It has lots of predators, such as birds, fish, and turtles.

The Milky Jellyfish begins its life cycle as planula larvae, then as sedentary polyps, and finally as medusa (the adult reproductive phase). Both males and females release eggs and sperm. Therefore, each jellyfish can produce young without mating with the opposite sex. It is hermaphroditic. 

It has a lifespan of about 12 months.

Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM