In less than a year, the Nomura’s jellyfish grows from the size of a grain of rice to larger than a person. It is one of the largest species of jellyfish, spanning two yards across and weighing 450 pounds—as heavy as a full-grown grown lion! To reach this size, the Nomura’s jellyfish hungrily feeds on small plankton, using its hundreds of microscopic mouths. Equipped with lethal barbs called nematocysts, the soft body of the Nomura’s jellyfish is not only protected from predators, but also provides safe haven for tiny fish that learn to dodge the poisonous weapons.