• TheTechnician27@lemmy.worldEnglish
    92·
    3 months ago

    Jellyfish are cnidarians, a phylum which also includes corals and sea anemones. Jellyfish are a specific lifecycle stage of medusozoans (their own subphylum), while corals and sea anemones are anthozoans (another subphylum of Cnidaria).

    So yup, they are polyps before sexual maturity. And you’ll find they’re more closely related to corals than they are to members of any other phylum.

    Edit: I highly recommend that anyone who wants to get lost in the world of marine invertebrates check out WoRMS and then follow along in parallel on Wikipedia as you navigate the tree.

  • NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.worldEnglish
    432·
    3 months ago

    There is a species of jellyfish which is functionally immortal. When they get too old they simply turn into children again and re-age.

    Edit: I’m not saying it’s not biologically immortal, I’m saying functionally immortal because I’m indicating that it can still be killed.

    Saying something doesn’t experience aging is not the same as insisting it cannot die.

    2+2=4 is not less correct because 2x2 also equals 4.

      • NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.worldEnglish
        616·
        3 months ago

        No, I meant functionally. As in practically. For all intents and purposes. As in under normal conditions.

        It’s like if I said “You meant ‘searching for’ and not ‘looking for’”, when looking indicates visual searching.

        In other words it’s a meaningless distinction in the usage and I would look like a real dickhead pedant if I insisted you use another word.

        • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          141·
          3 months ago

          Biological immortality is the term for what you were describing. The fact that I politely pointed it out and linked a relevant Wikipedia article of the topic doesn’t warrant you to get insulted and call me a dickhead

          • NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.worldEnglish
            115·
            3 months ago

            There is a functional difference between being pedantic about the word “functionally” and supplying relevant information.

            My comment indicates that the animal can still die, your comment indicates it doesn’t age.

            Do you see the meaningless distinction?

          • NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            3 months ago

            No, my point with “functionally” is that it can be killed.

            Biological immortality is a very specific concept indicating an absence of aging and the absence of an increase in expected mortality along with age.

            I just mean that something can still eat it. This is an easy concept to understand if you’re not focused on correcting people needlessly.

  • Pothetato@lemmy.worldEnglish
    40·
    3 months ago

    This graphic is going counterclockwise and I didn’t enjoy that. On the other hand, neat.

    • pyre@lemmy.worldEnglish
      10·
      3 months ago

      I disagree, time should flow left to right and by the nature of the egg it starts with top-to-bottom. so you have to start on the left, go to the bottom, keep going right, then the jellyfish rises so go back to top and then complete the circle

  • finitebanjo@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    3 months ago

    They also track sunlight so you can predict where they will be at certain times in areas with shade. Example: more likely to be closer to eastern shores in the mornings, further out at night.

  • Ignotum@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    3 months ago

    In stasis, it bends but won’t break us
    Aurelia, majestic as a lion’s roar embodies her
    Terranean, threaten and shield us
    Endanger, recoil and rewind the tapes
    She’s born again
    […]
    Medusa, a haunting allure
    Elusive ectoplasmic residue
    She’ll dance for you
    Inducing hydro-cosmic dreams in you
    Of eternal blue