Staurozoa facts for kids

The Staurozoa are a group of animals in the phylum Cnidaria. This group includes the unique stalked jellyfish. For a long time, scientists thought they were just an order (a smaller group) within the Scyphozoa class (which includes most jellyfish). However, new DNA studies have shown that Staurozoa are special enough to be their own separate class.

This is a small group, with only about 50 known species. Most of them live close to the shore and are quite small. Recently, some Staurozoa were surprisingly found near deep-sea hydrothermal vents. This discovery shows that there's still a lot more to learn about these amazing creatures!

Staurozoa are different from other jellyfish because they don't switch between two main life stages: the polyp (a stationary, plant-like form) and the medusa (the free-swimming jellyfish form). Instead, Staurozoa have a medusa stage that stays attached to something, acting a bit like a polyp.

Where Do Stalked Jellyfish Live?

Members of the Staurozoa class are usually found in colder waters, often very close to the coastline. After their larvae (baby forms) crawl along the sea floor and find a good spot, they attach themselves to rocks or algae.

Gallery

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  Haliclystus stejnegeri

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  Haliclystus antarcticus

Images for kids

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  Haliclystus sanjuanensis

See also

In Spanish: Estaurozoos para niños