Siphonophores (colonial jellyfish)

Siphonophores are colonial pelagic hydroids, commonly called jellyfish, and include such animals as the Portugese Man-o-War or Blue Bottle. All species are open ocean animals that rarely come close to shore. Individuals in siphonophore colonies often have specialist functions, eg forming the float, the swimming bells which propel the colony, feeding zooids and reproductive zooids. Feeding zooids have long tentacles armed with stinging cells (nematocysts) for capturing prey, including fish. Most siphonophores have a powerful and often very painful sting. They are important predators in the open ocean plankton.
These animals were filmed off the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania, Australia - one of the few areas in the world where a wide range of oceanic gelatinous plankton, including jellyfish, ctenophores, pyrosomes and salps, comes close to shore, and is easily seen while diving. Filmed by Michael Baron.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• siphonophores
• hydroids
• pelagic
• gelatinous plankton
• underwater
• diving
• jellyfish
• Tasmania
• Eaglehawk Neck
• colony
• Australia

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