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Jellyfish Delicious

Short answer: Sea turtles, especially leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea), eat jellyfish. Leatherbacks have sharp, scissor-like jaws, and their mouths and throats are lined with backward-pointing spines called papillae that grip slippery prey and let them expel water without losing the meal.

The footage shows a sea turtle eating a jellyfish.

VideoWrite-up1 sources
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What should you know about Jellyfish Delicious?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Jellyfish.

    DD-422-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Diet)

  2. Scissor-like.

    DD-422-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Jaws)

Video transcript: Jellyfish Delicious: Sea Turtles Can Eat Stinging Jellyfish

Turtles, particularly sea turtles like leatherbacks, can eat jellyfish thanks to specialized adaptations. They have tough, scissor-like jaws that allow them to bite through the jellyfish's soft gelatinous body without injury. Additionally, their mouths and throats are lined with backward pointing spines called papillae which help grip the slippery jellyfish and prevent it from escaping as [...] swallows. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 20.6s Reel ·

Video coming soonJellyfish Delicious · Instagram Reel
Jellyfish Delicious: Sea Turtles Can Eat Stinging Jellyfish Instagram Reel · · 20.6s

The write-up

Sea turtles can eat stinging jellyfish. Spines in their throats keep the meal from slipping out.

  1. Exhibit A

    Diet

    Jellyfish.

  2. Exhibit B

    Jaws

    Scissor-like.

  3. Exhibit C

    Papillae

    Backward-pointing spines.

  4. Exhibit D

    Grip

    Hold slippery prey.

  5. Exhibit E

    Species

    Leatherbacks especially.

Questions people ask about Jellyfish Delicious

Which turtle specializes in jellyfish?

Ocean.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Diet) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

What lines their throats?

Spines.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Jaws) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

Which way do they point?

Grip.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Papillae) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

What are the jaws like?

Cut.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Grip) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

Why spines?

Swallowing.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Species) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Which turtle specializes in jellyfish?

    1. Leatherback
    2. Box turtle
    3. Snapping turtle
    4. Tortoise
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Leatherback Ocean. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Diet) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

  2. What lines their throats?

    1. Papillae
    2. Teeth
    3. Hair
    4. Feathers
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Papillae Spines. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Jaws) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

  3. Which way do they point?

    1. Backward
    2. Forward
    3. Up
    4. Sideways
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Backward Grip. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Papillae) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

  4. What are the jaws like?

    1. Scissor-like
    2. Flat
    3. Toothy
    4. Absent
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Scissor-like Cut. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Grip) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

  5. Why spines?

    1. Hold slippery prey
    2. Taste
    3. Breathe
    4. Hear
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Hold slippery prey Swallowing. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Species) · Wikipedia: Leatherback sea turtle

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Jellyfish Delicious." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-422, last updated Dec 13, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/jellyfish-delicious/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/jellyfish-delicious/ · Last updated

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