Oct 3, 2022
The galaxies of our inner space 🌠
Even with the same basic blueprint, the diversity of siphonophores is spectacular. Scientists have described some 175 siphonophore species. Most follow a similar body plan—a gas-filled float provides buoyancy, swimming bells propel the colony, and a central stem bears specialized parts for feeding, defense, and reproduction.
Members of the genus Apolemia are some of the longest animals on the planet, which makes it a challenge to collect more than fragments. By using deep-diving robots MBARI and our collaborators are revealing the dazzling diversity of these delicate drifters.