Arctic cyanide is the largest jellyfish in the world. This is a very interesting and mysterious creature that lives in very harsh conditions, preferring the cold waters of the Arctic and Pacific oceans. With the help of this article, we will try to get to know her better.
External Description
The dome of a jellyfish in diameter reaches an average of 50-70 centimeters, but specimens up to 2-2.5 meters are often found.
Such an inhabitant of the oceans can even be called a giant. No wonder the stories of writers (for example, Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lion's Mane") are very popular, in which Arctic cyanide is mentioned. Its size, however, depends entirely on the habitat. Moreover, the further north she lives, the larger she becomes.
Also, the arctic cyanide has numerous tentacles that are located along the edges of the dome. Depending on the size of the jellyfish, they can reach 20 to 40 meters in length. It is thanks to them that this sea creature has a second name - a hairy jellyfish.
The coloring of her is striking in itsvariety, with young arctic cyanideas having bright colors. As they age, they become duller. Usually there are jellyfish dirty orange, purple and brown.
Habitat
Arctic cyanide lives in the waters of the Arctic and Pacific oceans, where it lives almost anywhere. The only exceptions are the Azov and Black Seas.
Most often, the jellyfish prefers to be near the shore, mainly in the upper layers of the water. However, it can also be found in the open ocean.
Jellyfish lifestyle
Arctic cyanide, a photo of which, in addition to our article, can be found in various literature, is a fairly active predator. Its diet includes plankton, crustaceans and small fish. If, due to a lack of food, the Arctic cyanide begins to starve, it can switch to its relatives, both its own species and other jellyfish.
Hunting goes like this: she rises to the surface of the water, directs her tentacles in different directions and waits. In this state, jellyfish look like algae. As soon as its prey touches its tentacles as it swims by, the arctic cyanide wraps itself around the entire body of its prey and releases poison that can paralyze. After the victim stops moving, she eats it. Paralyzing poison is produced in the tentacles, and along their entire length.
In turn, Arctic cyanide can also be dinner for other jellyfish,seabirds, turtles and large fish. It is worth noting that even the largest specimens do not pose a particular danger to humans. In the worst case, a rash appears at the points of contact with this inhabitant of the oceans, which immediately disappears after the use of antiallergic drugs. Usually such a reaction occurs in a person with sensitive skin, and some people sometimes may not even notice anything.
Reproduction of Arctic cyanide
This process is very interesting: the male ejects sperm through the mouth, and they, in turn, enter the female's mouth. This is where the formation of embryos takes place. After they grow up, they come out in the form of larvae, which attach to the substrate and turn into a single polyp. After several months of active growth, it begins to multiply, thanks to which the larvae of future jellyfish appear.
