Giant Siphonophore

Anatomy and Appearance

The giant siphonophore is a large colony of smaller organisms known as zooids. The zooids all perform different functions, some are for hunting, some for distribution of food throughout the colony, etcetera.

The average giant siphonophore is around 130 feet (40 meters). The longest giant siphonophore was estimated to be around 390 feet (118 meteres) in length.

Classification

Common name - Giant Siphonophore

Scientific name - Praya Dubia

Kingdom - Animalia

Phylum - Cnidaria

Class - Hydrozoa

Order - Siphonophorae

Family - Prayidae

Genus - Praya

Species - Dubia

Movement

The giant siphonophore makes use of a certain type of zooids known as nectophores to move. The nectophores propel the siphonophore through the water. The giant siphonophore needs to move so it can hunt, it needs to find a good place to catch prey.

Movement

Diet and Hunting

The giant siphonophore hunts by dropping down a curtain of long tentacles that paralize and kill it's prey. After catching it's prey, the tentacles are then used to distribute food to the rest of the colony. The giant siphonophore's diet consists of small crustaceans, fish and other siphonophores.

Diet and Hunting

Habitat and Range

The giant siphonophore lives in the deep sea at around 2,300 feet (700 meters) to 3,300 feet (1000 meters). It doesn't really have a specific area that it lives in, it can be found all around the world.

Habitat

and

Range

Adaptations

The giant siphonophore is able to let down a curtain like formation of tentacles in order to catch it's prey.

Adaptations

Reproduction

The giant siphonophore doesn't really reproduce, the zooids that make it up do. They reproduce asexually through a budding process. A single bud known as the pro-bud initiates the growth of a colony through fission

Reproduction

Behavior

The giant siphonophore is a solitary animal. It doesn't move much, only really when it is finding a location to hunt. On the surface it seems rather boring, but the behavior of the zooids that make up the siphonophore are more interesting. They all do different jobs and work together to keep the colony alive. Some hunt and distibute food, while others move the colony, maintain bouyancy, reproduce, etcetera.

Enemies and Defense

The giant siphonophore doesn't have any specific predators or enemies. Not many ocean crreatures want to eat it, especially since it is covered in tentacles that release toxins to paralize and kill. It does need to be careful though because the giant siphonophore is very fragile.

Enemies and defense

Survival Status

The giant siphonophore is not near extinction, but people should still make a concious effort to protect impressive species like it.

Survival Status

What makes it special?

The giant siphonophoer is the longest creature not only in the ocean, but known to man.

What makes it special?