#prayidae

Common name: Giant Siphonophore

Scientific name: Praya Dubia

Can be found in: Coasts around the world, ranging from Iceland in the North Atlantic to Chile in the South Pacific. It lives in a depth range of 700 m (2,300 ft) to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)

Info: the Giant Siphonophore is not a single organism, but a colony of components called zooids, each with a different function. It can grow to a body length of up to 50 m (160 ft). The zooids arrange themselves in a long stalk, called a physonect colony. The larger end has a dome-like float called a pneumatophore, which keeps the colony’s buoyancy, letting it stay at a preferred depth. The tentacles are used for catching, immobilizing, and distributing the nutrients to the rest of the colony. A Great Siphonophore retains its shape due to water pressure, so when it’s brought to the surface (typically by getting caught in nets) it looks like a blob of jelly.