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Animal Updates & Closures ▼ Please note that the new Outdoor Orangutan Habitat will be closed until 1:00pm on weekdays, as well Zoomobiles will no longer offer commentary approaching the new habitat while our orangutans are getting used to their new home.
On Friday, September 22, please note that the viewing platform in our Outdoor Orangutan Habitat will be unavailable until 1:15pm.
Please note, the following animals may not be viewable at this time:
African Savanna
Ostrich are not viewable.
Canadian Domain
Moose are not viewable.
Eurasia Wilds
Snow Leopards are not viewable.
Steller's sea eagles are temporarily relocated and now on display in the Canadian Domain.
Kids Zoo/Discovery Zone
Turkey Vulture is not viewable.
Please note that the Greenhouse is closed for renovations. However, our plants have been moved outside and are still viewable by the Wildlife Health Centre.


Jellyfish
Location at the Zoo:
Australasia
Region: Australasia
Moon jellyfish
Jellyfish are ancient creatures. Fossils have been found in rocks that are 650 million years old. Today there are more than 2000 species. Jellyfish are 95% water, 3% protein, and 1% mineral. There are four life stages from birth to adult. There is no backbone, brain, or heart. Adults drift with the currents, but can swim horizontally by pulsations of the bell to keep close to the surface. A primitive nerve net controls muscle contractions as it swims. The adult form is a transparent bell shape that ranges between 5 and 40 cm wide. Underneath is a central mouth surrounded by four oral arms that carry the stinging tentacles. From above, four crescent shaped gonads surround the mouth. On the rim of the bell are eight sets of eye spots sensitive to light and eight statocysts that help orient jellyfish when swimming. Jellyfish are primitive organisms with an outer layer (ectoderm) that covers the external surface and an inner layer (endoderm) that lines the gut. Between these is a jelly layer or mesoglea. The simple digestive cavity acts as a gullet, stomach, and intestine. There is one opening between the oral arms that acts as a mouth, anus, and entrance for sperm (in females).Conservation Status: IUCN
