biology question #4000

Reggie Lykins, a 9 year old female from Cincinnati asks on November 15, 2007,

Q:

I have two questions. 1. Do jellyfish have ears and if so can they hear well? 2. How many times can the same jellyfish sting you?
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the answer

Daniel Pauly, University of British Columbia professor of fisheries biology answered on November 15, 2007, A:

Jellyfish do not have ears.  However, jellyfishes have sensors that detect gravity and motion, and water movements cause the sensors to vibrate. Thus, some water movements might be perceived as a ‘sound’.

A jellyfish has many stinging cells all over its tentacles, and each stinging cell can discharge individually. Hence a jellyfish can sting you many times.

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