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| Jellyfoot; A terrestrial cnidarian - siphonophore / Lichen . | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 11 2012, 10:48 PM (880 Views) | |
| Mindfields51 | Aug 11 2012, 10:48 PM Post #1 |
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Newborn
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Jellyfoot (Zeledactyl physalis) Spoiler: click to toggle The Jellyfoot or Burnslug is a terrestrial cnidarian and siphonophore, infamous for its lumpy stinging mass. Despite it's outwards appearance the Jellyfoot isn't a single organism, or even a collections of the same kingdom of organism. The basis of the Jellyfoot is the polypoid zooids living in a mutually beneficial relationship with Deuteromycota (fungi), Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and Kelp colonies. Typically the Jellyfoot reaches up to 30cm in length, weighing 320g. It lives in rainforests, specifically among the decaying leaves of the forest floor. It feeds on organic matter ranging from leaves to dead insects and other organisms. The Jellyfoot serves a similar role to the rainforest millipede, churning the forest-floor and aiding in the dispersal of nutrients. Reproduction: The Jellyfoot reproduces asexually. The photosynthetic colonies provide energy to the whole of the organism. Anatomy The "foot" is a kelp colony forming a flat rolling mat and support for the Peripatozooid polyps that extend from beneath the Jellyfoot. The Peripatozooids are a elongated polyps and serve as the main source of nutrients gathering and mobility for the Jellyfoot. The polyps oscillate to create locomotion, while doubly serving to churn up food among the decaying leaves and solid. Along the elongated body are hundreds of tentacles that capture food particles and transports them to the mouth near the base of the polyp. The Jellyfoot lightens his weight via the Pneumatophore, a heated gas-filled bladder on the back of the main body - providing buoyancy to aid in moving across the forest floor. The gas is provided by the Thermozooid, a polyp specialized to suck in atmosphere and heat it up. The main body consist of a Deuteromycota and Cyanobacteria colonies, creating a lightweight sponge like support structure. The Deuteromycota specifically serves as nutrients and water storage. The Jellyfoot defends its self with a cluster of nematocysts located above the Deuteromycota colony, capable of delivering a series of sting that can be deadly. |
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| Mish | Aug 26 2012, 09:32 PM Post #2 |
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Hating my ISP
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That is a really cool critter. It living in the rainforest though, outside of the wet seasons, I think it would find itself dehydrating quickly, but your note doesn't mention any skin modifications it has to stay moist. Being nocturnal would help, as it can get pretty dry here if it isn't actively raining.
How does it photosynthesize while living in the humus layer of a rainforest? There isn't a lot of light that reaches there, unless it basks for a while in the rare spots of sunlight that do make it down that far. |
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2:19 PM Jul 11