Crossota millsae is a species of deep-sea hydrozoan.[1] These small ocean-dwelling creatures are bioluminescent; the light emitted by these jellyfish serves as a defense or warning to other creatures.[2] Males and females have both been described, and it reproduces sexually. They are viviparous and females brood baby medusae attached to the gastric canals inside the sub-umbrellar space.
| Crossota millsae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Hydrozoa |
| Order: | Trachymedusae |
| Family: | Rhopalonematidae |
| Genus: | Crossota |
| Species: | C. millsae
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| Binomial name | |
| Crossota millsae Thuesen, 2003
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| Synonyms | |
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Distribution edit
Crossota millsae was first described from the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii and California.[1] It was subsequently found in the Arctic Ocean[3][4] and in Guayanilla Canyon off Puerto Rico.[5] NOAA researchers who filmed this species in 2018 near Puerto Rico called it a "psychedelic" jellyfish.[6] It lives below 1 km depth in all four regions. Its highest abundance is found at 2500 m off California and 1250 m off Hawaii. In the Arctic Ocean, it has been observed sitting on the seafloor.[7]
Etymology edit
It was named after Dr. Claudia Mills, a marine scientist at the Friday Harbor Laboratories.
References edit
- ^ a b Thuesen, E.V., 2003. Crossota millsae (Cnidaria: Trachymedusae: Rhopalonematidae), a new species of viviparous hydromedusa from the deep sea off California and Hawaii. Zootaxa, 309: 1-12 http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2003f/zt00309.pdf
- ^ Gasca, Rebeca; Loman-Ramos, Lucio (Jan 2014). "Biodiversity of Medusozoa (Cubozoa, Scyphozoa and Hydrozoa) in Mexico". Mexican Journal of Biodiversity. 85: 154–163. doi:10.7550/rmb.32513.
- ^ "Arctic Images by Kevin Raskoff". Archived from the original on 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
- ^ BBC - Earth News - In pictures: Icy jellies
- ^ "Okeanos Explorer | Expeditions | NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Exploring Puerto Rico's Seamounts, Trenches, and Troughs | Daily Updates | Image Detail".
- ^ 'Psychedelic' jellyfish wows deep-sea explorers - CNN Video, 19 November 2018, retrieved 2018-11-21
- ^ Raskoff, K.A., R.R. Hopcroft, K.N. Kosobokova, J.E. Purcell, & M. Youngbluth, 2009. Jellies under ice: ROV observations from the Arctic 2005 hidden ocean expedition, Deep-Sea Research Part II
External links edit
- A widely reproduced photograph of C. millsae from the Arctic Ocean. Archived 2018-11-20 at the Wayback Machine
- An in situ photograph taken near the Davidson Seamount off California.
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