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The largest jellyfish is a story about it. Arctic cyanea - the largest jellyfish on earth

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Are you also looking forward to a vacation to spend it at sea? No matter how much we love to carelessly splash in its waves, we should not forget that danger may be hidden in them. Namely, jellyfish - often cute, but mercilessly stinging. And although they consist almost entirely of water, the stinging cells of many of them contain poison, which is injected into the victim faster than a bullet flies. So it’s time to find out which jellyfish you shouldn’t approach, even for the sake of a beautiful picture, and what to do if you do get stung.

We are in website chose 10 dangerous jellyfish, whose poison can provoke serious allergic reaction and can even be dangerous to health and life. Hopefully you won't have to encounter any of these jellyfish. But caution won't hurt.

sea wasp (Chironex fleckeri)

Typically, an individual reaches 30 cm in diameter, and its 24 tentacles can be up to 2 m long. The sea nettle's "sting" is extremely painful and leaves a rash and aching pain, but at least these jellyfish are not life-threatening.

Where it occurs: coasts of North America, the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)

The Portuguese man-of-war, also known as physalia, is not even a jellyfish, but a whole colony of polypoid and medusoid individuals. Under a small beautiful bubble are hidden very long “tentacles” - in fact, these are polyps covered with stinging cells with deadly dangerous poison. Their length can reach 10 m. Physalia move in groups of up to 100 colonies, and sometimes resorts have to close entire beaches because of them.

Where it occurs: tropical seas, but often appears in temperate seas.

Cornerots (Stomolophus meleagris)

This is one of the largest jellyfish in the world: its diameter reaches 2 m, and it can weigh about 200 kg. Nomura are dangerous not only because they are poisonous, but they also damage fishing equipment. There is a known case when a fishing boat was sunk because of them: jellyfish clogged the nets, and the crew could not cope with them.

Where it occurs: Far Eastern seas of China, Japan, Korea and Russia.

Pelagia nocturnal (Pelagia noctiluca)

The jellyfish can emit light in short bursts and its colors range from pink and purple to gold. They are often washed up on beaches by waves, as they live near the shore. Although jellyfish are small (6-12 cm in dome diameter), they sting painfully, and their venom causes burning, inflammation, an allergic rash and leaves blisters.

Where it occurs: Mediterranean and Red Seas, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

What to do if you are stung by a jellyfish?

You've probably often seen this photo on the Internet with the caption THE BIGGEST JELLYFISH IN THE WORLD. Moreover, almost everywhere they write that this is Arctic cyanea, also known as hairy cyanea or lion's mane(lat. Cyanea capillata, Cyanea arctica). The length of the tentacles of these jellyfish can reach 37 meters.

But many of you probably had doubts about whether the jellyfish is really that huge!

Let's figure it out...

In general, the title photo from the series is something like this:

or for example like this:

So what's really in the photo? You may be surprised, but the photo shows a real Arctic cyanide. And she really is the largest jellyfish in the world. True, the diameter of its dome reaches a maximum of 2 meters and it looks something like this:

The largest jellyfish reached 36.5 meters, and the diameter of the “cap” was 2.3 meters.

There is a difference, isn't there? Let's find out a little more about this jellyfish.

Photo 1.

Cyanos is translated from Latin as blue, and capillus - hair or capillary, i.e. literally a blue-haired jellyfish. This is a representative scyphoid jellyfish order of disc jellyfish. Cyanea exists in several types. Their number is a subject of debate between scientists, however, two more varieties are currently distinguished - blue (or blue) cyanea (suapea lamarckii) and Japanese cyanea (suapea capillata nozakii). These relatives of the giant “lion’s mane” are significantly smaller in size.

Photo 2.

In 1865, a huge jellyfish with a dome diameter of 2.29 meters and a length of tentacles reaching 37 meters was thrown onto the shore of Massachusetts Bay (the North Atlantic coast of the United States). This is the largest specimen of giant cyanide, the measurement of which is documented.

Photo 3.

The body of cyanea has a variety of colors, with a predominance of red and brown tones. In adult specimens top part the dome is yellowish, and its edges are red. The oral lobes are crimson-red, the marginal tentacles are light, pink and purple. Juveniles are much brighter in color.

Cyans have many extremely sticky tentacles. All of them are grouped into 8 groups. Each group contains 65-150 tentacles inside, arranged in a row. The dome of the jellyfish is also divided into 8 parts, giving it the appearance of an eight-pointed star.

Photo 4.

Cyanea capillata jellyfish are both male and female. During fertilization, cyanea males release mature sperm into the water through their mouths, from where they penetrate into the brood chambers located in the females' oral lobes, where fertilization of the eggs and their development occur. Next, the planula larvae leave the brood chambers and swim in the water column for several days. Having attached to the substrate, the larva transforms into a single polyp - a scyphistoma, which actively feeds, increases in size and can reproduce asexually, budding from itself daughter scyphists. In the spring, the process of transverse division of the scyphistoma begins - strobilation and the larvae of ethereal jellyfish are formed. They look like transparent stars with eight rays, they do not have marginal tentacles or mouth lobes. The ethers break away from the scyphistoma and float away, and by mid-summer they gradually turn into jellyfish.

Photo 5.

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Most of the time, cyanea hover in the surface layer of water, periodically contracting the dome and flapping its edge blades. At the same time, the tentacles of the jellyfish are straightened and extended to their full length, forming a dense trapping network under the dome. Cyaneans are predators. Long, numerous tentacles are densely packed with stinging cells. When they are fired, a strong poison penetrates the victim's body, killing small animals and causing significant damage to larger ones. Cyanides prey on various planktonic organisms, including other jellyfish, and sometimes small fish that stick to the tentacles.

Although the Arctic cyanide is poisonous to humans, its poison is not so powerful as to lead to death, although one case of death from the poison of this jellyfish has been recorded in the world. It can cause an allergic reaction and possibly a skin rash. And at the point where the jellyfish’s tentacles touch the skin, a person can get a burn and subsequent redness of the skin, which goes away over time.

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The marine environment is fundamentally different from ours. This world is fraught with many creatures that go beyond the concepts of ordinary things. Take, for example, the jellyfish... This ancient species has existed on the planet for more than 600 million years, and some specimens have learned to grow to incredible sizes.

Hairy cyanea

The largest jellyfish in the world is the hairy cyanide. Found throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but the most large specimens found in the Arctic. The reason for this is the lack of food in cold water, which leads to late puberty and, accordingly, gigantism of the individual.

Many people have seen this photo on the Internet. It certainly depicts a cyanea, but the ratio of a person and a jellyfish is corrected here with Photoshop. The largest jellyfish in the world washed up on the shores of Massachusetts Bay in 1870. Its length was 36.5 meters, and the diameter of the bell was 2.3 meters.

In this regard, cyanea rightfully also bears the title “the longest jellyfish in the world” and is considered the longest animal on the planet, since its main competitor is blue whale reaches only 33 meters.

What else is it called

Its other names are arctic cyanea or lion's mane. This is a disc jellyfish (octagonal in shape), opaque. Translated from Latin, its name means “blue hairy jellyfish,” although in adulthood it is more colorful - brown, red and yellowish tones predominate in it. But young cyanea is usually orange.

Common specimens have a diameter of about 2 meters and a length of tentacles of about 20. The body of the jellyfish is an inverted bell with blades. Tentacles emerge from its inner part, of which the cyanea has a lot - at each corner of the dome, up to 150 pieces are arranged in a row, which do not retract inward, but are always ready to bite into the victim. In the center there is a mouth, which is also an excretory opening. And jellyfish move in a reactive manner.

Habitats

Cyanea lives in surface waters at depths of up to 20 meters. This is a predator that uses its tentacles as a trapping net, where a rather strong poison awaits the victim at the ends of the stinging cells. For small fish it is fatal and leaves greater damage on larger animals.

In humans, the largest jellyfish in the world's oceans can cause allergies and burns, but not death. The story “The Lion's Mane” by Conan Doyle, where two people die when they touch it, is a work of fiction.

And besides, it’s rare that a diver will swim in the Arctic without a wetsuit to protect him from the cold. It is interesting that when it gets to more southern latitudes, cyanea will never grow more than half a meter. When meeting her in warm waters Without protective equipment, it is enough for a person to wipe the contact area with vinegar.

The life cycle of this jellyfish is quite unique. It consists of polypoid (attached to the bottom) and medusoid types.

Reproduction of jellyfish

Males spit out mature sperm through their mouths into the sea, where they enter the females’ mouth lobes. After a few days, the larva degenerates into a polyp, which first attaches itself to stones or plants. It will grow, eat, and may even reproduce by budding (asexually). And in the spring, the transformation is completed by the jellyfish larva, which sets off into free swimming as a small octagonal star.

Jellyfish hunt in groups - this makes it easier for them to surround plankton or a school of fish. Cannibalism is common among this type of jellyfish - on occasion, a large jellyfish can swallow a smaller relative. Natural enemies cyanides - turtles, birds and large fish they will never miss such a tasty piece of prey.

You can learn even more about jellyfish from the video below the article. Be sure to look at this majestic beauty...

A similar photo is often found on the Internet and the caption under it says that this is the largest jellyfish in the world. The jellyfish is called the arctic cyanea (cyanea hairy or lion's mane), and its tentacles can reach 37 meters in length. In general, this deep monster looks really scary, but is it really that huge? This post will help us understand this.

In general, the title photo from the series is something like this:

The largest jellyfish reached 36.5 meters, and the diameter of the “cap” was 2.3 meters.

There is a difference, isn't there?

Let's find out a little more about this jellyfish.

Cyanos is translated from Latin as blue, and capillus - hair or capillary, i.e. literally a blue-haired jellyfish. This is a representative of the scyphoid jellyfish of the order Discomedusae. Cyanea exists in several types. Their number is a subject of dispute between scientists, however, two more varieties are currently distinguished - blue (or blue) cyanea (suapea lamarckii) and Japanese cyanea (suapea capillata nozakii). These relatives of the giant “lion’s mane” are significantly smaller in size.

Giant cyanea is a resident of cold and moderately cold waters. It is also found off the coast of Australia, but is most numerous in the northern seas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as in the open waters of the Arctic seas. It is here, in the northern latitudes, that it reaches record sizes. Cyanea does not take root in warm seas, and even if it penetrates into milder climatic zones, it does not grow more than half a meter in diameter.
In 1865, a huge jellyfish with a dome diameter of 2.29 meters and a length of tentacles reaching 37 meters was thrown onto the shore of Massachusetts Bay (the North Atlantic coast of the United States). This is the largest specimen of giant cyanide, the measurement of which is documented.

The body of cyanea has a variety of colors, with a predominance of red and brown tones. In adult specimens, the upper part of the dome is yellowish and its edges are red. The oral lobes are crimson-red, the marginal tentacles are light, pink and purple. Juveniles are much brighter in color.
Cyans have many extremely sticky tentacles. All of them are grouped into 8 groups. Each group contains 65-150 tentacles arranged in a row. The dome of the jellyfish is also divided into 8 parts, giving it the appearance of an eight-pointed star.

Having attached to the substrate, the larva transforms into a single polyp - a scyphistoma, which actively feeds, increases in size and can reproduce asexually, budding from itself daughter scyphists.

In the spring, the process of transverse division of the scyphistoma begins - strobilation and the larvae of ethereal jellyfish are formed. They look like transparent stars with eight rays, they do not have marginal tentacles or mouth lobes. The ethers break away from the scyphistoma and float away, and by mid-summer they gradually turn into jellyfish.

Cyanea capillata (Otherwise called the giant arctic jellyfish, hairy jellyfish, blue-haired jellyfish or lion's mane jellyfish) is the largest of the jellyfish. Moreover, it is one of the longest living creatures on the planet (The first place is occupied by the blue whale, which is about 30 meters long and weighs 180 tons. In third place are worms of the nematode family and tapeworms).

The bell size of some representatives of this species exceeds 2 meters, and the weight can reach 300 kg. The tentacles of large individuals can reach a length of 20 meters. In 1865, a specimen with tentacles 37 meters long was discovered on the North Atlantic coast of the United States.
Cyanea is 94% water.
The hemispherical bell of the Arctic cyanea jellyfish has figured edges and consists of 2 layers of fabric.
The bell is divided into 8 beats. Each of the lobes has certain depressions at its base. The lobes contain the sense organs of the jellyfish (smell and light receptors).

On inside The umbrella has small tentacles along the entire perimeter of the jellyfish's mouth. In addition to the bottom, cyanea also has tentacles up to 20 meters long!

Just imagine 8 groups of tentacles, 150 in each group!!! And they all contain poisonous stinging organs - nematocysts. The jellyfish's venom is strong, but does not pose a threat to human life. However, poisoning and burns from a “close acquaintance” with this giant of the sea are guaranteed.

Interestingly, giant hairy jellyfish are divided by gender. Sperm and eggs are produced in their peculiar pouches located on the walls of the stomach. When the sperm mature, the male brings them out through his mouth. The female (again through the mouth) passes sperm to her egg, thus fertilization occurs.

Until the larvae fully mature, the cyanea eggs rest in the tentacles of their huge parents. The larvae that emerge from the eggs settle to the bottom, becoming polyps. Over time, small appendages grow on the polyps and then separate from them. It is they who will become the new jellyfish in the future.

Cyaneans feel best in cold waters; this is where the largest specimens of these poisonous beauties are found. But more and more often news is coming that giant jellyfish are starting to appear in warm seas. Moreover, Japan and China are forced to limit fishing due to the appearance of jellyfish. Whole, I’m not afraid of this wording, flotillas giant jellyfish They are increasingly attacking the Sea of Japan!!!

Here's what they write in Japanese newspapers:

"To reduce the damage caused by jellyfish, Professor Yui developed
an early signaling system for the arrival of giant jellyfish in the Sea of Japan. This system involves testing the jellyfish population through travel from Chinese coastal waters to the Sea of Japan. The resulting data, then translated into mathematical models, will be able to predict the routes of giant jellyfish processions into the Sea of Japan and the approximate time of their arrival three months in advance.
These types of warnings give fishermen time to prepare their nets to protect them from giant jellyfish. However, such setups are too expensive for many fishermen. It is clear that such methods are only short-term adjustments and not a long-term solution to the problem."

Cyaneas are pelagic inhabitants of the seas, that is, they live mainly at a depth of about 20 meters, rarely approaching the shores (to be honest, I was incredibly pleased with this news, and you?). Throughout their lives, jellyfish rely on ocean currents to move their jelly-like bodies. Lazily moving their long tentacles, in which small fish and invertebrates find a safe haven, jellyfish spend the time allotted to them by the laws of nature...

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