Which of These Is a Starfish or Jellyfish?

Starfish and jellyfish are often confused, but they are very different animals. In this article, you’ll learn how to tell the difference between a starfish and a jellyfish, with simple examples and facts.

What Is a Starfish?

A starfish, also called a sea star, is a marine animal with a star-shaped body. It usually has five arms (but sometimes more) and lives on the ocean floor.

Key features of a starfish:

• Star-shaped body with arms
• Hard, spiny skin
• Moves slowly using tube feet
• Lives on the seabed
• Not a real fish

Example:

A common starfish is the Common Sea Star (Asterias rubens), found in the Atlantic Ocean.

What Is a Jellyfish?

A jellyfish is a soft-bodied sea creature with a bell-shaped, transparent body and long, stinging tentacles. It floats in the ocean and moves with water currents.

Key features of a jellyfish:

• Soft, jelly-like bell-shaped body
• Tentacles that can sting
• Transparent or colorful
• Floats in open water
• Also not a real fish

Example:

A well-known jellyfish is the Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita), often seen in oceans around the world.

How to Tell Them Apart?

Feature	Starfish	Jellyfish
Body shape	Star-shaped with arms	Bell-shaped and soft
Movement	Crawls on seabed	Floats in water
Tentacles	No tentacles	Has tentacles
Skin	Hard and spiny	Soft and gelatinous
Living place	Ocean floor	Open ocean

FAQs: Starfish vs Jellyfish

Which is a starfish?
A starfish is the one with a hard, star-shaped body and no tentacles.

Which is a jellyfish?
A jellyfish has a soft, floating body with long tentacles.

Are they real fish?
No. Despite their names, neither starfish nor jellyfish are real fish.

Can jellyfish sting?
Yes, jellyfish use their tentacles to sting and catch food.

Can starfish hurt you?
Most starfish are harmless to humans.

Conclusion: Know the Difference

Now you know how to identify a starfish and a jellyfish! One crawls on the ocean floor and looks like a star, while the other floats and looks like a jelly dome with tentacles. Next time you hear the question, “Which of these is a starfish or jellyfish?” you’ll know exactly what to say!

Want to learn more? Check out our guide on “Sea Creatures for Kids” and discover amazing marine life!