Everything about Chondrophore totally explained
Chondrophores are an
order of
hydrozoans, gelatinous
Cnidarians superficially resembling
jellyfish. The order,
Chondrophora, is small: it contains a single
family (
Porpitidae) with just two
genera and approximately six species in total. The most familiar members include the
Blue Button (
Porpita porpita) and the
By-the-wind Sailor (
Velella velella).
Although related to jellyfish, chondrophores are actually
colonial animals made up of an orderly cooperative of
polyps or chondrophores.
The tiny individual animals are specialized to perform specific tasks; some form the central
gas-filled disc (which is a golden brown colour and hardened by
chitinous material) essential to keeping the colony afloat; others form radiating tentacles for tasks such as catching prey,
reproduction, and
digestion.
Velella species differ from
Porpita species by their transparent, membranous sail-shaped floats; filled with gas, the membranes have a texture reminiscent of
cellophane. Both genera have
turquoise to dark blue
mantles and tentacles, with lemon-yellow morphs occasionally encountered. Neither group is particularly large: the floats of
Velellae are usually under 7.6 centimetres (3 inches) in diameter, while those of
Porpita are usually less than 3.8 centimetres (1.5 inches).
At the mercy of winds and currents, chondrophores are
pelagic and drift in the open ocean. They are often seen in large aggregations; mass beachings are not unusual.
Microplankton is a chondrophore's principal prey. Although none have stings, contact with the skin may cause irritation.
Chondrophores multiply by releasing tiny (0.3-2.5 millimetres or 0.01-0.09 inches)
medusae which go on to develop new colonies. They are believed to have originated in the late
Proterozoic period, some 650-540 million years ago.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Chondrophore'.
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