Biology Question #4000
Reggie Lykins, a 9 year old female from Cincinnati asks on November 15, 2007,
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
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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