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Bloodybelly Comb Jelly

By Minnesotastan in Animal, Science & Tech, Video Clips on Nov 2, 2009 at 10:46 am


A creature with a musical name presents a spectacular light show to the cameras of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute’s remotely operated vehicle.  This ctenophore seems to be exhibiting bioluminescence, but what the “lights” actually represent is reflection or refraction of the photoflood lights from rhythmically beating cilia.  The deep red color is a survival adaptation, helping to mask the bioluminescence of creatures it ingests, so that it does not itself become visible to other predators.

It has been suggested that comb jellies such as the ctenophores are ancestors of all life on earth.

YouTube link, via The Daily Dish and Nerdcore.


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COMMENT
  1. Necronomic Recovery
    Nov 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 am

    Absolutely stunning.

  2. Gail Pink
    Nov 2nd, 2009 at 11:53 am

    So gorgeous!

  3. Tim Giachetti
    Nov 2nd, 2009 at 12:09 pm

    Very nice.. great find!

  4. pwscott
    Nov 2nd, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    I hope when our Alien Overlords arrive they are driving something like this. The pretty lights will distact us from danger. very cool.

  5. Johnny Cat
    Nov 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    Very neat!

  6. zavatone
    Nov 2nd, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    Yay for biology! I support pwscott's alien overlord comment.

  7. Miss Cellania
    Nov 2nd, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Looks like it may be related to this jelly, although the species isn't named.

    http://www.neatorama.com/2009/02/06/red-jellyfish/

  8. Minnesotastan
    Nov 2nd, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    @Miss Cellania - that does appear to be the same jelly.

  9. Ali S.
    Nov 5th, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    Looking at this I can just imagine it tastes like cherries.

  10. spyra
    Nov 18th, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    What's with the suspenseful music?? Observing something beautiful in nature should be nice and relaxing... :D

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