Every time Elizabeth Wilschke comes to Utah, she likes to take her sister's children to The Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy.

On a recent trip to the aquarium, Wilschke's niece and nephew were especially delighted with a new jellyfish exhibit that opened that day.

"They love the jellies," she said. "I think it's fantastic ... that they can come see wildlife here they wouldn't normally see."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome the new Upside-Down Sea Jellies, Sea Nettles and open the newly designed living quarters for the Moon Jellies was held May 24.

Janis Pierce, TLPA marketing director, said the Moon Jellyfish were already some of the aquarium's most popular inhabitants, and the two new species will be a good addition.

Cassiopeia, or Upside-Down Jellyfish, spend their lives sitting upside down on a sandy sea floor in seagrass beds and mangrove lagoons. With their flattened bell heads resting in the bottom, they extend their frilly tentacles to capture plankton in the moving water current.

Sea Nettles, Chrysaora, have round bell (heads) that range in color from orange to purple. Their long, trailing tentacles and rhythmic movement tend to mesmerize passers-by, said Brandon Eyre, TLPA animal curator.

"These specimens are beautiful," he said.

The tanks housing the jellies were designed to protect the delicate creatures. The round design creates a circular water flow to keep the jellies healthy and protect them from injury that could be inflicted by more turbulent waters, Pierce said.

Music playing in the Jellyfish Room was composed specifically for the exhibit by local musician Doug Morton, who has also written music for the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

A donation from Jim and Laurie Loveland of Alpine funded the exhibit.

Laurie Loveland said their family has enjoyed visiting aquariums in other cities, and jellyfish are always a favorite with her children, Sienna, 5, and Cole 3.

"All children are enraptured by the movement (of the jellies)," she said. "We jumped at the opportunity to expand the exhibit here."

Bailey Cressall, 4, said she likes seeing the jellies swim upside down. She also likes the jellies' round body and long legs.

Laurie Loveland said she is pleased with the way the exhibit turned out. She also likes being able to bring something to area children they might not see otherwise.

"We're fortunate enough to visit Hawaii and California, but not everybody (can do that)," she said. "The Living Planet Aquarium has caught the vision of what we hoped to do. It's neat to have a learning and educational center expand."

The Living Planet Aquarium is in Sandy at 725 E. 10600 South. It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and $5 for children 3-12. Children 2 and under are free. For more information, visit www.thelivingplanet.com.

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E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com