The moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) is a species of jellyfish which can be found in most of the world's oceans between the latitudes of 70 degrees north and 40 degrees south of the equator. They prefer warmer waters and feed on the plankton which thrive in these environments. The moon jellyfish typically floats near the surface of the ocean, where its tentacles can spread out and trap as many of their tiny prey as possible. Zooplankton like protozoa, mollusks, and nematodes become trapped in mucus which coats the tentacles, and are then shifted towards the stomach by flagellar action. Imagine lots of little arms or fingers along the tentacles pushing the trapped plankton towards the interior of the jelly's body. Moon jellyfish have also been known to eat smaller jellyfish, called medusae, if they become trapped in their tentacles.
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