The year 2020 saw the discovery of a lengthy gelatinous creature hung in a massive spiral by scientists 600 meters below the surface of the ocean off the coast of Western Australia.
It was a deep-sea siphonophore, a close relative of the blue bottles, or Portuguese man of war, which bobbed on the surface of the water like balloons while dangling poisonous tentacles in the air.
World's longest specimen found in the deep
Jonathan Diemel/Unsplash
These kinds of siphonophores are known to have spiral arrangements as a feeding position.
In the water, numerous stinging tentacles form a wall of death that traps small food, such as fish and crabs, as per The Guardian.
It was discovered by chance, which happens frequently in deep-sea exploration.
During their two-hour journey back to the research vessel Falkor, which was then under the control of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, the scientists, whose goal has been to study life on the deep seabed, just so happened to come upon this floating jelly.
Siphonophores resemble jellyfish in appearance, and they do belong to the same animal family, but they form their bodies differently; they resemble hundreds of microscopic jellyfish that have been adhered together.
Instead of developing more typically into a body with organs that perform various activities, siphonophores are made up of separate components called zooids.
Some zooids are in charge of feeding, while others are in charge of breeding, while still others move and guide the animal through the water.
The spiral-shaped siphonophore is a contender for the longest specimen ever discovered, according to a rough computation using the submersible's track.
It is far longer than a blue whale, possibly the longest mammal ever measured, at roughly 45 meters (150 feet).
Additional features of Siphonophore than another organism
Siphonophores develop and evolve in a totally different way than other huge, complex animals.
They begin with one body as well, but as they grow, they produce numerous more little bodies asexually that all remain connected, as per NaultilusLive.
Siphonophores are fascinating organisms for a variety of reasons. They are incredibly fascinating because, like corals, they are animals that live in colonies.
Additionally, each body is functionally tailored to perform specific functions like feeding or reproduction.
More so than any other colonial animal, these bodies' specializations and organizational structures are extremely complicated.
There are a lot of siphonophores in the open ocean.
The surf and debris are simply too much for them because they are so delicate, consequently, they are rarely encountered close to the beach.
The majority of siphonophores swim frequently. The wind blows Physalia, a Portuguese Man of War with a sail. This creature is moving down the bottom while swimming and being dragged along by a gentle tide.
The tentacles on all siphonophores are used to ensnare prey. Different species consume various creatures, and the arrangement of the stinging cells in their tentacles varies.
