Freshwater Jellyfish Found in Indiana Waters and They Are Tiny
Indiana has a rather vast amount of flora and fauna that are strange, unique, and even sometimes weird, and I often write about them. There are endangered frogs, albino deer, and even armadillos that call our great state home. However, I was not prepared to learn that Indiana is home to jellyfish.
Indiana’s Unexpected Jellyfish
No. That's not a typo, and I know what you're thinking, too. Indiana is landlocked, and the nearest ocean is a half-day's drive away. As it turns out, not all jellyfish live in the ocean, and one of them can be found in the waters of the Hoosier State.
Meet the Peach Blossom Jellyfish
Let me introduce you to the Craspedacusta sowerbii. These little creatures, sometimes called peach blossom jellyfish, range in size from 5–25 mm in diameter - about half the size of an average pea to about the size of a quarter. The National Parks Department says they are typically about the size of a penny.
Peach blossom jellyfish can have up to 500 tentacles that vary in length. According to the United States Geological Society, long and short tentacles each have different jobs.
Shorter tentacles facilitate feeding, while the longer ones give stability for swimming. The total number of tentacles varies from 50 to 500 - USGS
Are Freshwater Jellyfish Dangerous
Described as "macroinvertabrae," freshwater jellyfish fall into the same category as worms, mussels, insects, and snails. Despite using their tentacles to sting their prey, peach blossom jellyfish are much too small to be a danger to humans and other large animals.
Freshwater jellies pose no danger to humans. Though they hunt by using the stingers on their long tentacles, they are too small to sting larger organisms. - NPS
READ MORE: Invasive Cannibalistic Worm Found in Indiana Secretes Neurotoxin
When and Where to Spot Them in Indiana
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources points out that August and September are the perfect time to try to find them in Hoosier waterways. To locate them, look in calm water on clear, warm days in the afternoon.
While their appearance is sporadic and unpredictable, they may become visible as they rise to the water surface in the afternoon through early evening, especially on clear and warm days in calm water. -Indiana DNR
So next time you head out to the lake or the river, keep your eyes open! You just might spot a peach blossom jellyfish!
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Gallery Credit: Kat Mykals