A captivating and intriguing video was posted on the Instagram account of the Californian oceanographic foundation Schmidt Ocean Institute. On it, we can see long white filaments floating in the water, which belong to a jellyfish of the Apolemia type.
View this post on Instagram
Check out this beautiful giant siphonophore Apolemia recorded on the #NingalooCanyons expedition. It seems likely that this specimen is the largest ever recorded, and in a strange UFO-like feeding posture. Thanks @Caseywdunn (on Twitter) for the info!
A post shared by Schmidt Ocean Institute (@schmidtocean) on Apr 6, 2020 at 12:28 pm PDT
It was seen off the Australian coast, reports RTL. In commenting on this video, the foundation explains that this type of marine organism belongs to the family of siphonophores. It can measure up to 40 meters long thanks to its transparent and gelatinous extensions.
The jellyfish lives in a colony
The Apolemia jellyfish has a planktonic way of life, that is to say, it lets itself go according to the currents, floating more or less passively in the water. It can feed using its tentacles which bring food to one of its multiple mouths.
This type of organism systematically lives in a colony. This structure is well organized and each individual has a well-defined role: when one takes care of hunting, another manages the movement of the colony. Some also deal with reproduction.
- Video
- Australia
- World
- Unusual
- Jellyfish