We hear that you're investigating the health of our local beaches, and that you've asked a question about jellyfish and whether or not they poop. We've consulted our resources and here's the scoop:
Jellyfish usually drift along with ocean currents and catch food in their long tentacles. These tentacles have structures called nematocysts that sting and paralyze such unfortunate organisms, which float into these deadly traps. When a jellyfish captures its prey--such as small fish, zooplankton, and eggs or larvae of sea creatures--it pulls the food into its mouth, which is located on the underside of its bell-shaped body. If the jellyfish takes in food, it must have some way to release waste products...
It turns out that the mouth or oral cavity of a jellyfish also serves as its anus, from which it expels any waste matter. When food is pulled in through the mouth it enters something known as a gastrovascular cavity, which serves as a very basic kind of stomach. This is where digestion takes place. As the food is being broken down, nutrients are taken up by the cells of the organism to help it to carry out other bodily functions, and the waste material (feces) is then expelled with water from the oral cavity.
So, yes. Jellyfish do poop... through their mouths!
Hope this information helps! We're looking forward to your results about the beaches.
Sincerely,
FBEI Field Research Department
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