It’s World Jellyfish Day, and we want to give a shout-out to the lesser-known jelly cousins—siphonophores.
Along with jellies, siphonophores (pronounced “sigh-fawn-oh-fours”) belong to a larger group called Cnidarians. Unlike their gelatinous relatives, siphonophores are colonial creatures made up of specialized segments that work together as one. They may not be familiar to most, but they’re abundant animals in the ocean. In fact, siphonophores are some of the most important predators in ocean ecosystems.
This dashing deep-sea floof is also known as the dandelion siphonophore Dromalia alexandri. One of several species in the family Rhodaliidae, these siphonophores are typically found just above the seafloor, where the waters are rich with food. They use long, sticky tentacles to anchor themselves in place while other tiny tentacles grab any food drifting in the currents.
