There are certain animals you expect to find in a body of freshwater like the Tennessee River: Catfish, turtles, ducks, darters, maybe a snake or two.
What you don’t expect? Jellyfish.
Yet, as unlikely as it
There are certain animals you expect to find in a body of freshwater like the Tennessee River: Catfish, turtles, ducks, darters, maybe a snake or two.
What you don’t expect? Jellyfish.
Yet, as unlikely as it may seem, as Dr. Andreas Fath continues his point-to-point navigation of all 652 miles of the Tennessee River, he may encounter some unexpected wildlife, including — shockingly (though thankfully not sting-ingly) — freshwater jellyfish.
Freshwater Jellyfish are commonly found in many waterways in the eastern, temperate United States, including the Tennessee River. (Credit: Matt Hamilton/Tennessee Aquarium)
Small and bell-shaped, the Freshwater Jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii) is translucent and measures 5-25 millimeters (0.2-1 inch). According to the U.S. Geological Survey, these jellies — also known as Peach Blossom Jellyfish — have been found in waterways throughout the U.S. and are most common in the eastern, temperate states. Actually, Dr. Fath may already have encountered these jellies during his 2014 Rheines Wasser study of the Rhine River, where they also have been sighted.
Freshwater Jellyfish do ha