However if you are one of the many people who is not me, then jellyfish probably resemble some
alien semi-invisible harbingers of death that should be eradicated or tortured until we can discover
who sent them.
I am here today not to make you fall in love with these transparent death-bots but at the very least
appreciate that they are pretty darn remarkable, in this episode of.....
♪♫NERD FACT OF THE TIME PERIOD! ♪♫
Jellyfish, part of the larger group Cnidaria (puts on nerd glasses) come in many shapes and sizes,
from parasites to colossal Lions Mane jellies with tentacles trailing over 35m!
from parasites to colossal Lions Mane jellies with tentacles trailing over 35m!
No-matter how they live however, jellyfish are incredibly simple animals. sitting near the foot of the
animal evolutionary tree they lack some home comforts of more 'advanced' animals such as
ourselves and ducks. Mainly unnecessary frivolous things such as brains or any real organs other
than a simple sack for digesting food.
animal evolutionary tree they lack some home comforts of more 'advanced' animals such as
ourselves and ducks. Mainly unnecessary frivolous things such as brains or any real organs other
than a simple sack for digesting food.
With such a simple digestive system, it is also true that jellyfish poop through the same hole that
they eat. So even if you really really like them, please add this to your reasons not to kiss a jellyfish.
they eat. So even if you really really like them, please add this to your reasons not to kiss a jellyfish.
Despite being an animal with a short instruction sheet (Lego are you listening? Lego jellyfish please)
Jellyfish are able to boast a very impressive list of achievements.
Jellyfish are able to boast a very impressive list of achievements.
They are suspected of being the inventors of movement.... and I feel that alone should mean I don't
have to keep writing anymore... as that achievement is about as big as they get.
I mean imagine how bad-ass you are if you start moving around eating things when nothing else can
move! This also gives them the title of first ever active predators, the cougars of the ancient seas.
have to keep writing anymore... as that achievement is about as big as they get.
I mean imagine how bad-ass you are if you start moving around eating things when nothing else can
move! This also gives them the title of first ever active predators, the cougars of the ancient seas.
Remember how I mentioned that jellyfish don't have brains? Well if you think that would somewhat
hinder basic abilities then just remember that the jellyfish DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT WHAT YOU
THINK! Most jellyfish have eyes and, whilst most are simply eye spot that are able to tell light from
dark to keep them near the surface, some even have complex eyes with cornea, retinas and lenses.
Allowing some jellies like the box-jellyfish (do not touch, especially if you are an Australian,
Australians seem especially vulnerable) to see shapes and actively hunt! Brain schmain!
hinder basic abilities then just remember that the jellyfish DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT WHAT YOU
THINK! Most jellyfish have eyes and, whilst most are simply eye spot that are able to tell light from
dark to keep them near the surface, some even have complex eyes with cornea, retinas and lenses.
Allowing some jellies like the box-jellyfish (do not touch, especially if you are an Australian,
Australians seem especially vulnerable) to see shapes and actively hunt! Brain schmain!
Now for some extra cool types of jellyfish!
The first is Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as the Immortal jellyfish, that's right, the Immortal
jellyfish!!
jellyfish!!
This species has the ability to, when attacked or ill or merely fed up with how its life has turned out
revert back to its larval stage on the seafloor and start all over again! Theoretically there is no limit
to how many times this can happen. It's like a real life doctor who!
revert back to its larval stage on the seafloor and start all over again! Theoretically there is no limit
to how many times this can happen. It's like a real life doctor who!
Imagine that ability in your old age.
Awesome Jellyfish number 2!! The Portuguese Man O' War!!
Ok ok so I'm stretching this jellyfish definition. The Man O' War is not a true jellyfish, it is a
Siphonophore, another member of the Cnidarian group.
Siphonophore, another member of the Cnidarian group.
The awesome thing about it is that it isn't even an 'it'! Technically it is a 'they'.
The Man O' War is actually a colony of four different organisms called zooids which are highly
specialized and work together to form a single animal.... Just picture if you linked arms with a bear,
an elephant and a snake... and you all had jobs such as eating, moving, catching and having sex....
then you get the idea.
specialized and work together to form a single animal.... Just picture if you linked arms with a bear,
an elephant and a snake... and you all had jobs such as eating, moving, catching and having sex....
then you get the idea.
Awesome Jellyfish Cnidarian number 3!! Corals!
Hey Cnidarians count... leave me alone. Another member of the group are corals. Very close
relatives to jellyfish they are essentially huge colonies of tiny jellies that build immense stone castles
together and all life on the surface as kind of upside down jellyfish with their mouths and tentacles
facing into the water. It just so happens that these death castles (not quite as deadly as regular jellies
can be.... don't touch fire coral though) are often very attractive and full of pretty colors.
relatives to jellyfish they are essentially huge colonies of tiny jellies that build immense stone castles
together and all life on the surface as kind of upside down jellyfish with their mouths and tentacles
facing into the water. It just so happens that these death castles (not quite as deadly as regular jellies
can be.... don't touch fire coral though) are often very attractive and full of pretty colors.
This also means that Cnidarians have created the largest living structure on Earth, the Great Barrier
Reef!
Reef!
As a final note. Jellyfish stings hurt. Please do not pee on them, this often makes things worse. The
best thing to wash it with is seawater (seems counter intuitive I know) and definitely not fresh water.
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