Cassiopea andromeda, the Upside Down Jellyfish

Cassiopea andromeda, or the upside down jellyfish, is typically found on intertidal sands or mud flats, and is often mistaken for a sea anemone. Being that I love invertebrates, I chose this species for my blog, and I saw no shortage of this amazing creature during my time in the Keys. Cassiopea its name from the constellation, which is said to look like a queen's throne upside down. The back of our facility was painted with upside down jellyfish both big and small. They paralyze their prey with their nematocysts. Unsuspecting fish or pieces of what they once were are caught in their tentacles and digested. The cool thing about these jellyfish are the numerous symbiotic relationships they can form with other species. It offers a hiding spot for some species of shrimp that in turn clean Cassiopea of parasites. Zooxanthellae also have a symbiotic relationship. They live in the jellyfish' tissue and give it their brownish yellow and white patterns. They are responsible for giving the jellyfish another food source and in return the algae gets sunlight. This species is important to the Keys ecosystems because they provide a substrate for photosynthetic algae much like corals. They provide habitats for shrimp, so they are a vital step in the food chain. Plus they're really freaking cool to look at and the sting doesn't hurt humans! (Unless it's Johnna's face) These cool features add to the awe and wonder that divers and snorkelers experience when in the Keys, and I love them.