Drifters ride the ocean's highways-Monterey Aquarium The World's high definition HD

Purple-striped jellies-Jellyfish- jellies drift through open waters
Chrysarora colorata
In certain seasons, when the currents run just right, purple-striped jellies mysteriously appear near the shores of Monterey. When the jellies arrive, it's wise to keep your distance (their sting isn't fatal, but it can be painful). Since divers have seen ocean sunfich eating these jellies, we know some fishes must be immune to the sting.
Outer Bay
Drifters
Drifters ride the ocean's highways
Up and down along our coast, past Monterey Bay, currents flow like rivers through the sea. Swift, Strong fishes can swim against these currents, but plants and many animals just go with the flow. These drifters, called plankton, don't swim - they ride. But by catching the currents, they can travel far and wide.

Strange-seeming drifters survive in a wide world
Some drifters are tiny; others are as big as beach balls; many have fantastic forms. All make the most of their open-water home. A jelly's soft body, with no bones or shell, is carried easily by the currents. Jellies often are transparent or tinged with blue, which helps them disappear from view.

The strange-seeming drifters are at home in a world very different from our own.

Come closer and see.

Jellies drift through open seas
Because it takes so little energy, drifting is the most economical way to travel the vast open waters. Drifting jellies need only pulse their bells gently as they ride the ocean's currents. As they go, they feed on small fishes, jellis and other small drifters also along for the ride.

They're built to go with the flow
Alien as it looks, a jelly's soft shape is perfectly adapted to its environment. The animal's thin skin stretches over a body that's more than 95% water (no bones or shells to weigh it down). And as the jelly drifts, those dangling tentacles, covered with stinging cells, are combing the water to catch as prey.

Monterey Aquarium The World's Best Fish Sea Animals & Aquatic Plants HD

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Monterey
• Aquarium
• The
• World's
• Best
• Fish
• Sea
• Animals
• Aquatic
• Plants
• HD
• jellyfish
• Purple-striped
• jellies-Jellyfish-
• jellies
• drift
• through
• open
• waters
• Chrysarora
• colorata