Reading. Jellyfish

Jellyfish have drifted along on ocean currents for millions of years, even before dinosaurs lived on the Earth. The jellylike creatures pulse along on ocean currents and are abundant in cold and warm ocean water, in deep water, and along coastlines. But despite their name, jellyfish aren't actually fish—they're invertebrates, or animals with no backbones.

Jellyfish have tiny stinging cells in their tentacles to stun or paralyze their prey before they eat them. Inside their bell-shaped body is an opening that is its mouth. They eat and discard waste from this opening.

As jellyfish squirt water from their mouths they are propelled forward. Tentacles hang down from the smooth baglike body and sting their prey.

Jellyfish stings can be         to humans and sometimes very dangerous. But jellyfish don't purposely attack humans. Most stings occur when people              touch a jellyfish, but if the sting is from a dangerous species, it can be deadly. Jellyfish digest their      very quickly. They wouldn't be able to       if they had to carry a large, undigested meal around.