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Something Wonderful: Translucent Deepstaria with Resident Isopod

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?
or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
— Job

  This translucent Deepstaria jelly unfurled as it whorled and shapeshifted in currents created by ROV Hercules’ thrusters. Its bright red resident isopod, a relative of the pillbug, can be spotted hanging on for the ride!

Lacking stinging tentacles like other jellies, Deepstaria can close the opening of its expansive bag-like bell, trapping any prey that has floated inside. The geometric mesh pattern is an intricate network of canals that lead back to its stomach at the top of the bell. As the jelly can reach a large size when inflated, these channels help distribute nutrients across the entire expanse. Like many Deepstaria, this observed specimen included a bright red isopod taking up residence in the scyphozoan’s bell. The full extent of this association is unknown, but it is likely that this small crustacean consumes pieces of jelly while remaining hidden from predators.

[Helpful Hint: Mute the sound.]

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Patvann January 8, 2020, 3:43 PM

    Cool vid, but I had to shut it off at the 30-sec mark due to the voices of those in the background…
    That sound and tone makes me want to wretch.

  • Chris January 8, 2020, 4:04 PM

    Man can you imagine seeing that while you were tripping your balls off? Lol…

  • jwm January 8, 2020, 5:02 PM

    Patvann: The fry should be a linguistic felony punishable by tar & feathers. Not to mention being run out of town on a rail.

    JWM

  • Nunnya Bidnez, jr January 8, 2020, 5:48 PM

    I’ll bet you had a Lava Lamp too.

  • Geoff C. The Saltine January 8, 2020, 6:52 PM

    When I first saw it it looked like it was scooping up discarded va jay jay’s in its bell.
    But alas it is its gut.

  • Auntie Analogue January 8, 2020, 8:05 PM

    @ Nunnya Bidnez, jr.: Your one-liner . . . Cracked. Me. Up!

    Good one!

  • lpdbw January 9, 2020, 4:26 AM

    Channeling Dave Barry: Resident Isopod would be a pretty good name for a rock band.