Is this the ocean or Missouri? Here’s why you could see jellyfish in our lakes or ponds

The first time he saw a jellyfish in Missouri, Andrew Branson was “amazed.”

The angler outreach specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation had heard about the Missouri invertebrates, but even so, he was awed “to see what is thought of as an ocean animal in freshwater.”

Most associated with salty seawater and painful stings, there is a jellyfish that resides in landlocked Missouri, but you don’t have to fear its stings.

We are in the thick of jellyfish season right now, when water temperatures are warm enough to coax out these small invertebrates.

Learn where to find these freshwater jellyfish , scientific name Craspedacusta sowerbii, and what role they play in the Show Me State’s waterways.

How can you identify a Missouri jellyfish?

If it looks like a jellyfish, it probably is one, Branson said.

From July to September, when surface water temperature hits 80 degrees, Missouri’s jellyfish move from their tiny dormant polyp phase to their better-known form, the larger, free-swimming medusa phase.

Missouri’s jellyfish are clear, round and quarter-sized. They usually drift in still water, like ponds, lakes or even a river backwash.

Where do the jellyfish come from?

Freshwater jellyfish are originally from China and were unintentionally brought to the United States in the late 1800s, most likely on shipments of aquatic plants. These jellyfish have now been found on every continent except Antarctica.

Although they are not native to Missouri, Branson said these jellyfish are not considered invasive, since they aren’t spreading quickly or harming local creatures.

There are no jellyfish species native to Missouri, though the blob-like invertebrate bryozoan comes from the Show Me State.

Can they hurt me?

Although they have stinger cells to capture their tiny prey, the jellyfish in Missouri probably won’t injure you. They are so small their stingers cannot pierce human skin.

While some people report itching or redness after contact with the jellyfish, most feel no effect , according to the Department of Conservation.

What should you do if you see a jellyfish in Missouri?

Branson said you don’t need to report your sighting. Instead you can just appreciate the rarity of creatures associated with saltwater environments living in Missouri.

Have more questions about wildlife in Missouri? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com .