#jellyfish science

[that-taters-my-tots]

I was reading this article about comb jelly fusion (basically, these translucent comb jellies have the ability to fuse together and become one, even with their digestive and nervous systems), and the article had this comment about them and I immediately started dying.

Imagine a scientist is seeing something that could expand human medicine and he calls you a 'little translucent fatty'. Wonderful. 100%

[vmantras]

The Immortal Jellyfish: Nature’s Secret to Eternal Life

Introduction What if I told you there’s a creature on Earth that can live forever? It sounds like science fiction, but in the depths of the ocean, there exists a tiny jellyfish called Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as the immortal jellyfish. Unlike other living organisms that age and die, this jellyfish has the unique ability to reverse its aging process, effectively making it biologically…

[siryl]

"Jellyfishes" by Ghionion.

[amnhnyc]

Today’s Exhibit of the Day? The lion’s mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata). Jelly-ve it or not, this critter is one of the world’s longest animals. This jumbo-sized jelly trails a “mane” of more than 800 stinging tentacles that are covered in cells with venom that stun prey, including other jellyfish, small crustaceans, and zooplankton. Just how long is the lion’s mane jellyfish? Well, its tentacles can grow more than 100 feet (30 meters) long! In fact, the longest examples of this species—which inhabit the Arctic Ocean—are even longer than the longest known blue whale. Come see a life-size model of one at the Museum’s Hall of Biodiversity.

Photo: R. Mickens/ © AMNH

[typhlonectes]

[the-wolf-and-moon]

IC 443, Jellyfish

[noosphe-re]

An extraordinary deep-sea sighting: The giant phantom jelly (MBARI Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)

[boxercrab]

spotted lagoon jelly

picture by @underlyingocean

[rebeccarhelm]

The lost jellyfish art of Ilona Richter, from Anita Brinckmann-Voss's 1970 book on jellyfish of the Mediterranean Sea...

[mbari-blog]

Meet the psychedelic jelly

This jelly’s vibrant colors and far-out appearance clued scientists into a unique find.

Of all the jellies that call the ocean’s midnight zone home, the psychedelic jelly (Crossota millsae) is one of the most stunning. Its wildly colorful appearance—ruby red, bright orange, and electric purple—first tipped off scientists that they had found a previously unknown species.

But a closer look offered scientists another surprise: This species is one of a handful of jellies that bear live young.

The female psychedelic jelly broods her babies on those crimson canals that radiate out inside her bell. Mom carries more than a single baby at once.

The developing young get their nutrition from mom. In their shelter beneath her bell, the little jellies grow bigger and bigger, even sprouting tentacles while still attached to their mother. 

When the juvenile jelly outgrows its shelter, it pulses free and swims off to live on its own. As the juvenile grows, its lavender color fades, developing the tangerine pigmentation typical of adults.

[strawlessandbraless]

Happy Valentine’s Day from some cuddly Creatures of the Deep 🌊 💙

Something for the peeps who followed me for marine science and only got destiel, I love you

Love to sea it 🌊

[facts-i-just-made-up]

[marinememes]

Today is Wet Beast Wednesday!

Today’s wet beast is: Man-of-war Fish

Olive’s wet beast fact: this little fishy has evolved to live within the extremely dangerous tentacles of the Portuguese Man O’ War. It is here that the fish feasts upon their gonads. Happy Pride.

Stay tuned for more Wet Beast Wednesdays!

[amnhnyc]

What has no heart and no brain? No, it’s not your ex… it’s the barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo). Also known as the dustbin-lid jellyfish (yes, really), this species can reach an impressive 35 in (90 cm) in diameter and can weigh up to 77 lbs (35 kg)! Like other jellies, this critter relies on its nervous system to function.

Photo: tato grasso, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

[jellyfish-scientist]

Hi!! So I have a news story about jellyfish in the same region of the US as myself!

In Oskaloosa, Iowa, a teenager found a freshwater jellyfish. Now that may sound not super interesting, but Iowa doesn't have freshwater jellyfish. This is the second sighting this month. He said he caught ~20 but his father let him only keep two, meaning there are more.

Kim Bogenschutz, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for the Iowa DNR, says that this may be from improper dumping.

The most interesting part of this is that this freshwater jellyfish, the peach blossom jellyfish, is native to the Yangtze River in China, though they have been observed in the US since the early 1900's.

If you come across freshwater jellyfish (and they aren't Native), please alert your local DNR. They aren't dangerous to people or a threat to the native species, but scientists would like to prevent further spread!

Sources used and referenced:

[thedeepsharks]