Siphonophore facts for kids
Siphonophores are amazing sea creatures. They are not one animal, but a group of tiny animals called zooids that live together. These zooids are all connected and work like a team. Think of them as a floating city of tiny, specialized individuals! They belong to a group of animals called cnidarians, which also includes jellyfish and corals.
A famous example of a siphonophore is the Portuguese man o' war. Even though it looks like a single jellyfish, it's actually a colony of many different zooids.
What are Zooids?
Zooids are very small, changed versions of individuals. All the zooids in one siphonophore colony are genetically identical, meaning they are like clones. These tiny parts are special kinds of polyps and medusoids.
Even though zooids are similar to other cnidarians, they cannot live alone. They are always attached to each other. Each type of zooid has a special job. It needs the other zooids to do things it cannot do by itself to survive.
A Team Effort
The zooids fit together so closely that the whole colony looks like one animal. For a long time, people thought siphonophores were single creatures. It was a big discovery in the 1800s to learn that they are actually many small animals working as one! Each part helps the others, making the whole colony able to survive and thrive in the ocean.
Images for kids
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Bioluminescent siphonophores pictured above the Hercules ROV, photographed by the Argus vehicle.
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Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis)
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Plate 7
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Plate 37
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Plate 59
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Plate 77
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