User:HUSCBaint/Stomolophus

Description
Stomolophus fritillarius is a species of true jellyfish in the family Stomolophus. In collection with the other species in the Stomolophus family it is commonly referred too as the cannonball jelly, due to the shape of its bell appearing similar to a cannonball. Found in the central Atlantic Ocean, gulf of Mexico and Asia Miranda, Morandini and Marques, 2009 ). this species exhibits a pelagic lifestyle, primarily inhabiting tropical climates. It can grow up to 9cm wide and is commonly found in the western central Atlantic region (Haeckel, 1880 ).

Species: S.fritillarius
Taxonomy: The Taxonomy of Stomolophus is not agreed on in the scientific community

== Life History (CALDER, 1982 ): ==


 * Planula Stage: The jellyfish starts as a tiny swimming larva called a planula.
 * Scyphistoma Stage (Morandini, Silveira and Jarms, 2004 ): The planula settles down and transforms into a cone-shaped structure called a scyphistoma. The scyphistoma has about 16 tentacles around a dome-shaped part.
 * Reproduction: The scyphistoma reproduces asexually by forming podocytes.
 * Strobilation: After about nine days, the scyphistoma starts a process called strobilation, where it produces small jellyfish called ephyrae. This process takes about 3.5 days and doesn't cause any significant colour changes.
 * Ephyra Stage: The ephyrae are released and have eight pairs of lappets and eight rhopalia. They look similar to, but slightly different from, the ephyrae produced in the wild.

Feeding
Primarily feeds on pelagic organisms the Cannon ball jelly fish uses its tentacles to harvest zooplankton, including fish larvae and crustaceans. Stomolophus fritillarius, like other jellyfish species, is a passive predator that follows the currents of the ocean while snagging prey with its tentacles when it comes across it (Thomas N. S. Banha et al., 2020 ).

Although there aren't many precise scientific research on Stomolophus fritillarius' eating habits, we may learn a lot about them from closely related jellyfish species in the same genus, including the cannonball jellyfish, Stomolophus meleagris. These observations imply that Stomolophus fritillarius, which mostly feeds on planktonic species, probably displays a similar feeding behaviour (Francisco Javier Álvarez-Tello, López‐Martínez and Lluch‐Cota, 2015 ).

Predators
Sea Turtles: A number of sea turtle species, including those in the genus Stomolophus, have been observed to consume jellyfish, including the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) (Jones et al., 2012 ).

Fish: A few species of fish, especially the ocean sunfish (Mola mola) and sunfish (family Molidae), have been observed to eat jellyfish. If these fish come across Stomolophus fritillarius in their natural habitat, they can become their prey (A. Desjardin, 2005 ).

Seabirds: In coastal locations, certain seabird species, such terns and gulls, may opportunistically feed on jellyfish, including Stomolophus fritillarius (Reza et al., 2018 ).

Human Culture/Contact
In coastal areas, jellyfish blooms, such as those of Stomolophus fritillarius, have raised issues related to the ecology and economy. Large-scale jellyfish blooms have the potential to harm aquaculture operations, block fishing nets, and compete with fish for food sources. Certain management measures, such as jellyfish ecological study, monitoring programmes, and technology development to lessen jellyfish interference with fishing operations, have been used in some instances to try and lessen the effects of jellyfish blooms (Gómez-Salinas, López-Martínez and Morandini, 2021 ).

Although overfishing of jellyfish populations is usually not a problem, marine science and management continue to study the ecological effects of jellyfish blooms and how they interact with human activities like aquaculture, tourism, and fisheries. attempts to create sustainable management and gain a deeper understanding of jellyfish dynamics (Brotz, L. 2016 ).

Asia's fisheries have been hunting for edible jellyfish species for more than a millennium, with rhizostome jellyfish being the most consumed in southwest Asian nations. About 892,000 metric tonnes of these jellyfish species are brought ashore in southwest Asia each year. Though on a smaller scale, other nations like Mexico, Australia, India, Turkey, and the United States of America have also joined this fishing in recent decades. Despite the size of the sector, jellyfish catches can vary by location and seasonally by several orders of magnitude, which causes instability in the fisheries throughout all fishing zones (Mamet, 2019 ).

Venom
Like the venom of many other jellyfish species, that of Stomolophus fritillarius is composed of a variety of poisons whose main functions are to seize prey and ward off potential dangers. Although the precise makeup of the venom varies between jellyfish species and individuals, it usually consists of proteins, peptides, and other bioactive substances (Rongfeng et al., 2014 ).

some of the main ingredients of jellyfish venom:

Enzymes and proteins have the ability to destroy tissue, interfere with nerve signals, and rupture cell membranes. Proteases, which degrade proteins, and phospholipases, which hydrolyze lipids in cell membranes, are two examples (Amreen Nisa et al., 2021 ).

Neurotoxins: These poisons attack the neurological system, producing symptoms like pain, paralysis, and in extreme situations, respiratory failure. They could obstruct the release of neurotransmitters or tamper with nerve cells' ion channels.

Cardiotoxins: These poisons have an adverse effect on the heart and circulatory system, which may result in abnormal heart rhythms, a reduction in heart function, or even cardiac arrest.

Cytotoxins: By interfering with cellular structures and functions, these toxins have the ability to destroy cells and damage tissue.

The venom that a jellyfish injects into a human is administered by specialised stinging cells called nematocysts, which are found on the tentacles of the jellyfish. When these nematocysts are activated, their coiled, thread-like structures quickly uncoil and pierce the skin, injecting the victim with venom. The severity of a jellyfish sting can vary depending on factors such as the size of the individual and the jellyfish, the amount of venom delivered, and the sensitivity of the victim. While most jellyfish stings cause localized pain, redness, and swelling, severe reactions can occur in some cases