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Siphonophore

Siphonophore
Siphonophore
Siphonophore
Siphonophore
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336949
Madin, Laurence
Siphonophore
Still Image
01/07/2009
graphics/Jellyfish/11.jpg
Caption from Oceanus magazine, Vol. 52, No. 2, back cover:
A marine organism, Porpita porpita, related to jellyfish.
Featured in the Open Ocean Jellies poster, available at the Ocean Science Exhibit Center.
Info from poster: A siphonophore, which is closely related to the medusae. These animals are made up of multiple units, each specialized for a function like swimming, feeding, or reproduction. This ?modular? construction allows some siphonophores to grow very large, over 100 feet long in the deep ocean. Although most siphonophores live below the surface, the Portuguese Man o?War is one that rests on the surface, suspended by a gas-filled float.
Image of The Day caption:
Is it fireworks, a flower, or a 1970's fiber-optics lamp? None of the above!?it's a colonial ocean animal related to jellyfish, called Porpita porpita. The colony has radiating blue "tentacles"?really the individual units of the colony? that sting and catch tiny animals, and a gas-filled float to help it stay at the ocean surface. This and other "jellies" are featured on a poster available at the WHOI store.
Photo by Larry Madin
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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