Huge swarms of these medusae, inhabitants of Jellyfish Lake, have symbiotic algae. The medusae swim back and forth across the lake to stay in the sun as long as possible. Their nematocysts have lost all their potency.
Better to call these beautiful creatures Medusae echoing the Medusa of Greek Mythology. The streaming tentacles, laden with nematocysts, do suggest the hissing serpents of Medusa's hair. Interestingly, these medusae arise, budded off from tiny polyps hidden in the substrate. Diam. 26 cm./Depth 5m
Public Domain Mark Sum Courtesy of life.nbii.gov
NBII images
Category hierarchy: Interactions Among Species | Defense: Poisons & MoreDescription: Sea nettle in a glass enclosure that is made out of blue glass. The reason for the blue tinted glass is for the color contrast between the aquarium and the sea nettle.Capture device: Canon EOS 30DLocality: Latitude: 3.892955560000000e+001; Longitude: -7.704969939999999e+001
