Do penguins eat jellyfish?
While penguins occasionally ingest jellyfish, they are not a primary or preferred food source. Studies using camera loggers attached to penguins have documented some species, such as Adelie and little blue penguins, consuming jellyfish. However, it is unclear whether this is intentional or incidental. Jellyfish have very low nutritional value compared to fish and krill, so they would not sustain a penguin. Plastic bags floating in the ocean are sometimes mistaken for jellyfish by penguins, which is one of the pollution-related threats they face.
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Where this answer comes from
Reference bodies behind our diet answers. Links last checked August 5, 2026.
- NOAA Fisheries - Marine food webs, climate, and ocean ecosystem context.
- British Antarctic Survey - Antarctic penguin ecology, diving, and sea-ice context.
- Penguins International - Species explainers and conservation context focused on penguins.