This children’s article, The immortal jellyfish: Nature’s forever creature?, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about unusual sea animals, and explore how nature sometimes seems stranger than fiction. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.
What is the immortal jellyfish?
Imagine an animal that could live forever! The immortal jellyfish (scientific name Turritopsis dohrnii) is a tiny jellyfish, smaller than your little fingernail, that scientists believe has the power to escape death.
When most animals get old or sick, they eventually die. But the immortal jellyfish can do something amazing: it can turn its adult body back into a baby form. This process is like pressing a magical “reset” button on life.
How does it work?
When the immortal jellyfish is hurt, hungry, or ageing, its cells transform. Instead of dying, it goes back to being a polyp, the first stage of its life. From there, it can grow into a jellyfish again. In theory, this cycle can happen again and again, meaning it could avoid death forever!
Of course, that doesn’t mean these jellyfish actually live forever in the wild. They can still be eaten by predators or harmed by pollution. So, while they are “biologically immortal,” they aren’t invincible.
Do all jellyfish do this?
Not at all. The immortal jellyfish is special. Most jellyfish live for only a few months to a year, and they cannot go backwards in their life cycle. Turritopsis dohrnii is the only species known to have this ability.
Where do they live?
The immortal jellyfish lives in warm seas around the world, especially in the Mediterranean and off the coasts of Japan. Because they are so small and nearly transparent, they are very difficult for scientists to spot.
Other fascinating jellyfish facts
- Jellyfish have lived in Earth’s oceans for more than 500 million years, making them older than dinosaurs.
- Jellyfish have no brain, heart, or bones — yet they can sense light and move in the water.
- Some jellyfish can glow in the dark, thanks to a natural chemical.
- The lion’s mane jellyfish, the biggest of them all, has tentacles that can be longer than a blue whale!
Article vocabulary list
- Immortal: Living forever, never dying.
- Polyp: The baby stage of a jellyfish’s life cycle.
- Predator: An animal that hunts and eats other animals.
- Cycle: A series of events that repeat again and again.
- Transparent: See-through, like glass.
- Invincible: Impossible to beat or destroy.
- Biologically: Related to how living things work inside their bodies.
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. What is the scientific name of the immortal jellyfish?
A) Turritopsis dohrnii
B) Aurelia aurita
C) Medusa maris
Answer: A) Turritopsis dohrnii
2. What special ability does the immortal jellyfish have?
A) It can grow extra tentacles.
B) It can turn back into a baby polyp.
C) It can breathe underwater.
Answer: B) It can turn back into a baby polyp.
3. Why don’t immortal jellyfish actually live forever in the wild?
A) They get too old.
B) They can still be eaten or harmed.
C) They stop growing after one cycle.
Answer: B) They can still be eaten or harmed.
4. Where are immortal jellyfish often found?
A) Deserts
B) Warm seas like the Mediterranean
C) Polar oceans only
Answer: B) Warm seas like the Mediterranean
5. Which of these facts about jellyfish is true?
A) They have a brain and bones.
B) They are younger than dinosaurs.
C) Some can glow in the dark.
Answer: C) Some can glow in the dark.
Mark is a writer and EFL teacher from England with eight years’ experience. He’s passionate about travel, sport (especially football), animals, nature, and history, and enjoys helping children explore the world through language and learning.
