the Researchers found that some jellyfish of the genus Cassiopea use a rather interesting method of self-defense. They learned to attack potential enemies at a distance with a kind of acidic pomegranate.
the Team of the research laboratory of the U.S. Navy studied of a species Cassiopea xamachana (in the English language they are also called upside-down jellyfish, loosely translated as “upside down jellyfish”, because they do not like to swim, preferring to sink to the bottom and lay on the dome, pumping the water movement of the tentacles). The size of these creatures in the phase of jellyfish is usually not more than 25 centimeters.
C. xamachana live in the shallow waters off the coast of Florida, Micronesia and in the Caribbean and often annoy divers and surfers. The latter often feel as if they are “stinging water”, that is, the pain appears while physical contact with a jellyfish is not happening. Scientists decided to find out why this is happening.
Previously it was thought that the jellyfish use some detachable stings or sting people young organisms. But in the end, the researchers came to the conclusion that C. xamachana actually developed an unusual defense tactics, which tentacles are not needed.
Scientists found that in case of danger jellyfish emit a cloud of mucus. By examining these “emissions”, experts have discovered thousands of stinging cells on the outer layer of clouds.
As it turned out, these formations are the true cause of the “stinging water”. This poison can cause serious harm to humans (though it kills skin cells), but it is fatal to small animals.
interestingly, these toxic grenades able to see the target and live outside of the body of Medusa up to 10 days. The scientists called them cassiani, in honor of the kind themselves jellyfish.
Kassioopi with a large approximation (shown in green arrows). It is clear that nthey are not a uniform shape. Scale bar – 300 µm.Photo Ames et al, doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-0777-8.
the Results of the study were published in the journal Biology Communications.
we will Add that earlier “News.Science” (nauka.vesti.ru) told about how it was discovered an antidote to the bite of dangerous jellyfish.
Text: To.Science
