Pacific sea nettle jellyfish Nov 3, 2023

Jellyfish may be observed in all the world"s oceans in an array of shapes and sizes. There are about 2,000 different species of jellyfish, and they all lack hearts, bones and brains. Pacific sea nettle jellyfish, seen here, are known for their vibrant golden-brown bell, long tentacles and inhabit the coastal waters of California and Oregon. Moon jellyfish are pale and have short tentacles, and in an unexpected but somewhat appropriate twist, they ventured into space aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 1991 to help scientists study their unique biology. No matter the species, jellyfish play a vital role in the ocean"s food chain, as they are the primary food source for many seawater animals, including sea turtles. Jellies are threatened by climate changes, marine pollution and overfishing, and damage to their populations has reverberating effects on the sea life that depends on them.

© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Nov 3, 2024Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán, Mexico
Nov 3, 2025Jellyfish, Guerrero, Mexico

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 29, 2025Étretat, Normandy, France
Mar 29, 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead, Wales, UK
Aug 16, 2024Roller coaster in Nagashima Spa Land, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Oct 3, 2023Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Sep 14, 2023Przewalskis horses, Hustai National Park, Mongolia
Jan 31, 2025Plains zebras, South Africa
Sep 24, 2025Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
Nov 14, 2025Mother manatee and calf
Oct 13, 2024Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
Apr 3, 2024Rainbow across the Kakshaal Too mountains, Kyrgyzstan
Mar 26, 2025Manatee in Crystal River, Florida, United States
Apr 6, 2024Himeji Castle, Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Sep 25, 2024Giant sequoias, Sequoia National Park, California, USA
Dec 24, 2025Starling murmuration, Brighton, England
Nov 12, 2024Arches National Park, Utah, United States
Jul 26, 2025Mangrove trees, Walakiri Beach, island of Sumba, Indonesia
Jan 10, 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland
Feb 5, 2025Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Oct 14, 2024Coco Beach, Goa, India
Apr 18, 2025Göreme Historical National Park in Cappadocia, Türkiye
Mar 14, 2025Dolmen of Sorginetxe, Spain
Mar 5, 2025Khao Sok National Park in Thailand
Feb 4, 2026Red kite in snow
Feb 23, 2026Great white egret, Upper Bavaria, Germany
Feb 5, 2026Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
Jan 3, 2024Lake Minnewanka, Alberta, Canada
Nov 26, 2023Fallow deer in Bradgate Park, England
Apr 11, 2025Tulips, Netherlands
Jan 27, 2025Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
May 17, 2025A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy