The Human Archives
Ernst Haeckel’s Discomedusae plate showing Desmonema annasethe
Jellyfish (Desmonema annasethe), 8 of 10 in LifeIdea 1 of 4: Soft Bodies That Outlast Hard Problems
Life 004—008

Jellyfish (Desmonema annasethe)

500 million years ago

From the archiveLife10 artifacts
From the record · 01 / 04

Soft Bodies That Outlast Hard Problems

Jellyfish lack bones, shells, or hard teeth, which makes their fossil record patchy. Even so, discoidal and medusa-like impressions in Ediacaran and Cambrian rocks, combined with the diversity of living cnidarians, point to a very ancient origin. Modern Discomedusae include some of the largest jellyfish, with individuals that can weigh hundreds of kilograms.

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Jellyfish lack bones, shells, or hard teeth, which makes their fossil record patchy. Even so, discoidal and medusa-like impressions in Ediacaran and Cambrian rocks, combined with the diversity of living cnidarians, point to a very ancient origin. Modern Discomedusae include some of the largest jellyfish, with individuals that can weigh hundreds of kilograms.