Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Moon Jellies - Jellyfish

Moon Jellies - (Aurelia aurita)
Jellyfish
Australian National Maritime Museum

Named for their ghostly, translucent bells, they are abundant in temperate and tropical waters worldwide.  Their delicate bodies pulse and drift with effortless grace.  The moon jelly's short tentacles are armed with stinging cells, called "nematocysts," but the sting lacks the toxic, painful punch of other jellies.  Although they're 95 percent water, moon jellies are the main course for leatherback sea turtles and other marine creatures.  Thousands of animals die annually from mistakenly swallowing drifting plastic bags, which resemble the gelatinous jellies.

This unused postcard was bought in 2012.
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Sydney Aquarium

Moon Jellies
Photography by Darren Jew

This one is postmarked in 2012 with an Australian 'Dingo' stamp.
Australia stamp 2011
Dingo 1.60

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