Marry 

Giant jellyfish cyanide: description, lifestyle, interesting facts. Cyanea jellyfish - the largest in the world

October 24, 2013

Arctic giant jellyfish

The largest jellyfish in the world, according to the latest data, is the Arctic giant. She lives in the Atlantic. One of these jellyfish was washed ashore in Massachusetts. The diameter of her bell was 2.3 m, and the tentacles were 36 m. During her life big jellyfish eats more than 15 thousand fish.

The most poisonous jellyfish in the world - Australian sea ​​wasp. When touching the tentacles, people die in 1-2 minutes, provided there is no instant medical care. In diameter, its dome has only 12 centimeters. But the length of the tentacles is about 8 meters. According to the mechanism of action, jellyfish venom is similar to cobra venom and acts on the heart muscle. Since 1880, about 70 people have become its victims on the shores of Australia. Oddly enough, but one of the most effective means protection are women's tights. Despite its tiny size, the killer jellyfish has a deadly sting. In 2002, she managed to cause the emergence of the Irukandji syndrome in Australia, because of which 2 tourists died. It all started with a small, mosquito-sized bite. Those who were bitten suffered from back pain and convulsions for an hour. In addition, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating and coughing were noted. The consequences of what is happening are very sad. There are known cases of a bite leading to paralysis or death, as a result of hemorrhage in the brain or cardiac arrest.

Invasion of giant jellyfish

Recently, off the coast of the town of Echizen, belonging to Fukui Prefecture, there has been an unprecedented invasion of giant jellyfish. Thousands of special ones, the size of which is more than a meter, and the weight exceeds 100 kilograms. The length of some individuals reached 5 meters. However, their poisonous tentacles were not fatal to humans. Mass migration of giant jellyfish to the Sea of ​​Japan was associated with an increase in water temperature. Fishermen constantly complained about the sharp decrease in income, since, in order to feed on such a large number of giant jellyfish, the latter were killed or stunned a large number of fish and shrimp, not disdaining the nets of fishermen. similar view jellyfish was first discovered in East China sea. Since 1920, giant jellyfish of this species have been migrating between Japan and the Korean Peninsula due to rising temperatures.

But still, the cyanide, or, as it is called in another way, the blue-haired jellyfish, remains the largest jellyfish. In science, two of its subspecies are distinguished. Blue and Japanese cyano. But the Japanese are significantly inferior in size to the blue cyanide.

Giant jellyfish live in moderately cold and cold waters. Found in small numbers off the coast of Australia. And yet the most numerous populations are observed in the northern seas of the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic. Also, giant jellyfish can be found in the open seas of the Arctic. Exactly at northern latitudes there are really giant jellyfish. In warm seas, as a rule, cyanide either does not survive, or is no more than 0.5 m in diameter.

The body of a giant jellyfish

The body of a giant jellyfish can have a variety of colors. Mostly red and brown tones predominate. In adults, the upper part of the dome is colored in yellow, and the edges in red. The tentacles can be light to purple in color. Sweat cavities are red. Younger specimens have a much brighter coloring. A large number of sticky tentacles are observed. They are in 8 groups. Any group, in turn, has 60-150 tentacles inside. All of them are in a row. The dome of the jellyfish is also divided into 8 parts. All this makes it look like an eight-pointed star. Giant jellyfish are found both female and male. During the fertilization period in males, spermatozoa are ejected through the oral cavity straight into the water. From there, they enter the mouths of the females and into the brood chambers. In them, the eggs are fertilized and develop. Then the larvae leave these chambers and swim in the water. Gradually feeding and increasing in size, it can multiply and asexually budding. In the spring, the process of transverse division and the formation of jellyfish larvae takes place. They are transparent eight-pointed stars that do not have tentacles and oral lobes. In mid-summer, they turn into large jellyfish. They spend a lot of time in the surface layer of water. Cyanees are predators by nature. Tentacles shoot into the body of a potential victim strong poison. Prey can be both planktonic organisms and small fish, jellyfish.

Tentacle web

The giant jellyfish, being poisonous to humans, at the same time does not have the power to kill him. In the world, only one case of death from a giant jellyfish has been recorded. In most cases, it causes allergic reactions. In other cases, a rash may be observed on the human body. In the place where the tentacles touched the human body, burns may appear. Or just reddening of the skin. But all this passes over time. There is a pattern of dependence of size on color. The smaller it is, the lighter the color. Small jellyfish have orange and brown hues. Giant jellyfish hunt in groups of about 10 individuals. They weave their tentacles together to form a huge web. It is in it that they enter sea ​​fish and some invertebrates. Turtles are a danger to giant jellyfish, sea ​​birds. Also, other jellyfish and big fish. Some may consider the giant jellyfish dangerous to human life and health. But it's not. The burns from her tentacles can be painful for sensitive people.

The pain from them can last about 7-8 hours. In fact, the sting of a giant jellyfish is practically incapable of causing mortal harm to a person. However, toxic substances can cause an allergic reaction in a person.

The largest jellyfish in the world is the arctic cyanide, also known as the hairy or lion's mane cyanide (lat. Cyanea capillata, Cyanea arctica). The length of the tentacles of these jellyfish can reach 37 meters, and the diameter of the dome is up to 2.5 meters and is the longest animal on the planet.

Cyanos is translated from Latin as blue, and capillus is hair or capillary, i.e. literally - a blue-haired jellyfish. This is a representative of the scyphoid jellyfish of the disc jellyfish order. Cyanea exists in several forms. Their number is a matter of dispute between scientists, however, two more of its varieties are currently distinguished - blue (or blue) cyanide (suapea lamarckii) and Japanese cyanide (suapea capillata nozakii). These relatives of the giant "lion's mane" are significantly inferior to her in size.

Atlantic cyanide, according to experts, can reach a diameter of up to 2.5 meters, in comparison with the blue whale, which is a popular example when designating the longest animal, can reach 30 meters in length, weighing about 180 tons, then the claim of giant cyanide the title of the longest animal on Earth is understandable.

Cyanea giant is a resident of cold and moderately cold waters. It is also found off the coast of Australia, but is most numerous in the northern seas of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, as well as in the open waters of the seas of the Arctic. It is here, in the northern latitudes, that it reaches a record size. In warm seas, cyanide does not take root, and if it penetrates into softer climatic zones, it does not grow more than half a meter in diameter.

In 1865, on the coast of Massachusetts Bay (North Atlantic coast of the USA), the sea threw out a huge jellyfish, the dome diameter of which was 2.29 meters, and the length of the tentacles reached 37 meters. This is the largest of the giant cyanide specimens, the measurement of which is documented.

The body of the cyanide has a varied color, with a predominance of red and brown tones. In adult specimens, the upper part of the dome is yellowish, and its edges are red. The mouth lobes are crimson red, the marginal tentacles are light, pink and purple. Young individuals are colored much brighter.

Cyanides have many extremely sticky tentacles. All of them are grouped into 8 groups. Each group contains 65-150 tentacles inside, arranged in a row. The dome of the jellyfish is also divided into 8 parts, giving it the appearance of an eight-pointed star.

Jellyfish Cyanea capillata are both male and female. During fertilization, cyanide males release mature spermatozoa into the water through their mouths, from where they enter the brood chambers located in the females' oral lobes, where the eggs are fertilized and developed. Then planula larvae leave the brood chambers and swim in the water column for several days. Attached to the substrate, the larva transforms into a single polyp - scyphistoma, which actively feeds, increases in size and can multiply. asexually, budding off from itself child scyphist. In the spring, the process of transverse division of the scyphistoma begins - strobilation and the larvae of the jellyfish ethers are formed. They look like transparent stars with eight rays, they do not have marginal tentacles and mouth lobes. The ethers break away from the scyphistoma and swim away, and by the middle of summer they gradually turn into jellyfish.

Most of the time, cyanideas hover in the near-surface layer of water, periodically shortening the dome and flapping their edge blades. At the same time, the tentacles of the jellyfish are straightened and extended to their full length, forming a dense trapping net under the dome. Cyanees are predators. Long, numerous tentacles densely covered with stinging cells. When they are fired, a strong poison penetrates the victim's body, killing small animals and causing significant damage to larger ones. Cyanide prey - various planktonic organisms, including other jellyfish, sometimes small fish that stick to the tentacles also get caught.

Although the Arctic cyanide is poisonous to humans, its poison does not have such power to lead to death, although there has been one case of death from the poison of this jellyfish in the world. It can cause an allergic reaction and possibly a skin rash. And in the place where the tentacles of the jellyfish touch the skin, a person can get a burn and, subsequently, reddening of the skin, which disappears over time.

The Arctic Cyanea (Cyanea capillata) is the largest jellyfish in the world. Its giant dome can reach a diameter of 2 meters, and thin translucent tentacles grow up to 20 meters in length.

The body of the cyanide can have a wide variety of colors, but brown and red individuals are usually found. Adult jellyfish top of the dome may be yellow, and its edging is red. The mouth lobes, as a rule, are painted in bright crimson tones, which signals danger to other animals. The younger the jellyfish, the brighter its color.


Arctic Cyanea grows and develops according to life cycle all jellyfish. Her life is divided into two main stages: medusoid and polypoid. From birth, the jellyfish is a larva that swims freely in the water for several days. Then it attaches to the substrate and becomes a polyp. In this state, the jellyfish actively feeds and rapidly increases in size. After some time, transparent stars bud from the polyp - larvae, which in the future will transform into jellyfish.

Habitats of these jellyfish cover everything northern seas Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, where they swim freely and leisurely near the surface of the water. They move very effectively, making rare strokes of the edge blades and reducing the dome.

Do not forget that these huge jellyfish are predators, so their long tentacles are always ready to attack and hunt. They form a dense network right under the dome of the jellyfish and secrete the strongest poison, which instantly kills small prey, and paralyzes large animals. Almost all types of marine animals become the object of cyanide hunting: from plankton to fish and other jellyfish.

For a person, a meeting with Arctic cyanide will not bring serious trouble. People who are prone to allergies or those with sensitive skin will develop a slight rash, while those who are stronger will not notice any discomfort at all.

The jellyfish reproduces as follows: males throw spermatozoa into the water through their mouths, which penetrate into special cavities inside the female's mouth. The embryos of future jellyfish are formed there, where they remain until they reach the age of exit to open water. Once outside, the larvae begin the medusoid stage of their lives.

Arctic cyanide prefer to live in the upper layers of the water and rarely sink to the very bottom. By their nature, they are active predators, which feed mainly on plankton, small fish and crustaceans. With a lack of these animals, cyanide is taken to eat its relatives - jellyfish different types, including members of their own species. During the hunt, the cyanide rises almost to the surface of the water and spreads its long tentacles to the sides. In this position, the jellyfish looks more like a cluster of algae. When the victim swims between the tentacles and accidentally touches them, cyanide wraps around the body of the prey and paralyzes with poison, which is produced in numerous stinging cells located along the entire length of the tentacles. As soon as the victim stops moving, the cyanide pushes it towards the mouth opening with tentacles, and then with oral lobes.

The Arctic cyanide, or Cyanea capillata, has become a popular variety, appearing in literary works, especially in "The Adventures of the Lion's Mane" about Sherlock Holmes. However, arctic cyanide is actually not as dangerous as it is portrayed in popular culture. The sting of this jellyfish is simply incapable of causing deaths in humans. Although the rash can be painful for sensitive people, and the toxins in the venom can cause an allergic reaction.


One specimen of the Arctic Cyanea, which was found in Massachusetts Bay in 1870, was over 7 feet in diameter and had tentacles longer than 120 feet. However, the bell of the Arctic Cyanea is known to be able to grow up to 8 feet in diameter, and its tentacles can be 150 feet long. This creature is much longer than the blue whale, which is generally thought to be the largest animal in the world. This species of jellyfish is very variable in size. While the largest individuals are found in the northernmost waters of the Northern Arctic Ocean, the size of the jellyfish decreases when you travel south. The color of this species of jellyfish also depends on its size.

The largest specimens of jellyfish were dark red. As the size decreases, the color becomes lighter until it becomes light orange or Brown color. The medusa bell is divided into eight petals. Each petal has a cluster of 60 to 130 tentacles on the edge of her jelly body. The Arctic cyanide also has many oral lobes near the mouth to facilitate transport of food to the jellyfish's mouth. Like most jellyfish, the Arctic Cyanea is carnivorous and feeds on zooplankton, small fish, and ctenophores, and is also cannibalistic, feeding on other jellyfish. Predators that pose a danger to this jellyfish are seabirds, big fish, other varieties of jellyfish and sea ​​turtles.

I think, after reading the details, you realized that the photo above or the photo, for example, the photo at the beginning of the post is still just a convenient angle (or photoshop) and of course there are no such huge jellyfish.



source Jacob delafon

Original taken from

Everyone is well aware that in absolutely every species of vertebrates you can meet the most outstanding representative, who for one reason or another has become a record holder. But not only vertebrates are distinguished by any feature.

Invertebrates are also not inferior to their vertebrate "brothers" in terms of records. One of these outstanding invertebrates is considered to be the giant jellyfish cyanide.

Giant sea wonder

hairy cyanoea- this is, undoubtedly, the largest jellyfish in everything body of water peace. It is truly gigantic maritime miracle. talking scientific language, the invertebrate is called Cuanea arctica. FROM Latin it translates to "arctic cyanoea". You can meet this majestic creature in the heights northern hemisphere. Compared with its counterparts, the Arctic cyanide has a beautiful color. The pink-purple cyanide jellyfish can be observed in any northern sea that flows into the oceans:

  • Quiet.
  • Atlantic.

As a rule, it lives near the coast, mainly near the surface of the water. Scientists who studied the giant jellyfish assumed that it lives in the Azov and Black Seas. But all attempts to find Arctic cyanide there were in vain.

The huge size of the invertebrate giant

According to the results of the conclusion, the last study carried out by members of the Cousteau team, we can say that the diameter of the so-called body, is about 2.5 meters. But the main pride of the Arctic cyanide is associated with its tentacles. Incredibly, the length of these truly majestic limbs can reach 42 meters. Researchers around the world have come to the conclusion that the size of the Arctic cyanide is directly affected by its habitat. More precisely, the temperature of the water in that place. It has already been proven that the largest specimens live in icy waters ocean.

Appearance

This species of invertebrate has a rather specific and interesting body color. Mostly the body of the arctic cyanide consists of flowers:

  • Red;
  • brown;
  • purple.

As the jellyfish matures, its body begins to gradually turn yellow. And red shades appear along the edges of the body. The tentacles emanating from the edges of the body, or as it is also called, domes, are predominantly purple-pink in color. Oral cavities are usually red-crimson. The dome of the giant jellyfish has the shape of a hemisphere. Along the edges of the body, there are 16 smoothly passing blades, separated from each other by special cuts. Some people compare it to a lion's mane. Indeed, there are similarities. So another name was attached to this giant, the lion's mane jellyfish.

Lifestyle

Jellyfish of this species spend a lot of time in free swimming, living closer to the surface of the ocean. By nature, the lion's mane jellyfish is a predator. And very dangerous and active . Her diet mainly consists of:

  • plankton located in the upper layers of the water;
  • crustaceans;
  • small fish.

During the "hungry years", when jellyfish can not find food for themselves, they can long time exist without food. But it often happens that they transform into cannibals and begin to devour their fellows.

Until recently, the method of hunting this jellyfish was unknown. . arctic cyanoea floats to the surface of the water. Spreads its huge tentacles in all directions. After preparatory stages, the time of waiting for its victim begins. Scientists who studied the behavior of the jellyfish during the hunt drew attention to the fact that in this position it is very similar to algae, which, in turn, are similar to a lion's mane. This is one of the reasons why the Arctic invertebrate is called the "lion's mane" jellyfish.

The victim, not suspecting anything, goes towards these "algae". As soon as the prey touches this "lion's mane", the predator immediately grabs it with its tentacles and injects its poison into the body of the prey. This poison paralyzes all the vital organs of the victim, and when she no longer shows any signs of life, the jellyfish eats her. It is worth noting that the poison produced is present along the entire length of the tentacle and has a strong effect.

reproduction

These invertebrates have a peculiar way of reproduction.. The spermatozoa of the male spill out of his mouth into the mouth of the female. After the sperm enters the female's mouth, it is there that they begin to turn into embryos. After some time, the offspring comes out of the mother in the form of larvae. The larvae begin to cling to the substrate, forming a solid polyp. After a few months, the resulting polyp multiplies. Due to this, larvae appear, which in the future will become jellyfish.

To this day, the largest officially recorded specimen caught is an invertebrate of this type. diameter 2.3 meters. The length of the tentacle of the giant creature was 36 meters. This phenomenon happened in 1870, near Massachusetts. But this is far from the largest aquatic inhabitant. With the help of modern equipment, scientists have found that there are, where bigger size representatives of this species. But, so far, no one has been able to see this majestic miracle.

The burn that a jellyfish can leave is very painful. Large individuals of this species of invertebrates are considered potentially dangerous to humans. Fatal outcome, after meeting with a jellyfish, was recorded once. This was because the venom from the tentacle caused an allergic reaction in the victim, which led to lethal outcome. Although the poison of the lion's mane jellyfish is practically harmless to humans, if it enters the body, you should consult a doctor.

The largest jellyfish discovered by scientists to date is the giant arctic jellyfish, better known as "Hairy Cyanea" or "Lion's Mane". The length of its tentacles can reach 37 meters, which is comparable to the size of a ten-story building, the diameter of its dome is two and a half meters. The Latin names of the jellyfish are Cyanea capillata, Cyanea arctica, which in translation sounds like "Blue-haired jellyfish" or "Arctic jellyfish".

There are two more species of this jellyfish: Cuanea lamarckii, which in translation sounds like "Blue Cyanoea", and Cuanea capillata nozakii - "Sea Cyanoea". However, both of them are inferior in size to their "relative".

Dimensions of the largest jellyfish

In terms of its dimensions, the Arctic cyanide can easily compete with the most big representative ocean fauna - the Blue whale, whose weight can reach 180 tons, and the length is about thirty meters.

In 1865, in the North Atlantic coast of the United States, in the Gulf of Massachusetts, a huge jellyfish was thrown out of the sea. Its length was 37 meters, and the diameter of the dome was 2 m 29 cm. This example is the largest of all, whose dimensions have been officially documented.

Habitat

Arctic cyanide has chosen the cold and moderately cold waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. Its populations are located off the coast of the Australian continent, but most of the representatives of this species of jellyfish live in the basins of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as in ice-free waters of the Arctic. Mild climate warm seas cyanide does not benefit, here its populations are either completely absent or few in number.

Structure and color

In the color of the body itself large jellyfish reddish and brown tones predominate. In older specimens, the edges of the dome are red in color, and yellowish color prevails in the upper part. Smaller jellyfish are painted in light orange or light brown tones.

The sticky tentacles of cyanide are collected in 8 groups. Each of them contains 60-150 tentacles arranged in rows. With the help of them, the jellyfish paralyzes its prey by injecting poison into the body of the prey. Jellyfish prefer to hunt in groups, several individuals at once, as if forming a huge net with their tentacles, into which, in addition to small fish, many invertebrates also fall.

Human danger

The burn left by cyanide is not life-threatening, although it is quite sensitive, and allergic reactions are also possible. Painful sensations can last up to 8-10 hours, sometimes longer.

Jellyfish are unique living organisms that inhabit most of the seas and oceans. The smallest jellyfish are no larger than a wasp, the largest are amazing.

Instruction

The largest or, more precisely, the longest animal on the planet is the giant cyanide jellyfish, or the hairy cyanide. This unusual creature is also called the lion's mane. In 1865, a huge cyanide was washed up on the shores of Massachusetts Bay. Its dimensions staggered the imagination - the diameter of the dome of this jellyfish was two hundred and twenty-nine centimeters, and the tentacles stretched for thirty-seven meters.

Zoologists believe that cyanideas can reach a dome diameter of two and a half meters, most likely, in the largest specimens, the length of the tentacles can exceed thirty-seven meters documented in 1865. It should be noted that blue whales, which are considered mammals, reach a maximum of thirty meters in length, which makes cyanide a kind of champion.

On cyanos means "blue", and capillus - "capillary", or "hair". That is, Cyanea capillata literally translates as "blue-haired jellyfish." There are several species of this animal, all of which are inferior in size to the giant "lion's mane".

The poison of this jellyfish is strong enough, but for a healthy person it is non-lethal. It causes discomfort of varying degrees of intensity, but almost never leads to death. The problem is that cyanide has a lot of tentacles, they are very long, so if you get entangled in them, increasing the contact area, you can seriously suffer.