Like other siphonophores, Apolemia members may resemble an individual organism, but they are instead a colonial organism that consists of many polyp and medusoid components collectively known as zooids.
Research history
The genus Apolemia, named by Baltic-German physician and naturalist Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, was first documented in 1815 with the discovery and description of Apolemia uvaria (the "string jellyfish"), by French naturalist Charles Alexandre Lesueur off the coast of Europe.[1] It was displaying a net-like feeding pattern in the pelagic zone, and was documented to have rows of nematocysts. Few species have been well-defined within the genus otherwise.
In 2020, researchers working off the coast of Western Australia came across an Apolemia which had coiled itself into a spiral form. The outer "ring" was estimated to be 47 meters (154 feet) long,[3] with an estimated total length of 119 meters (390 feet).[4] This would make it longer than any other animal on the planet if one includes colonial animals, although individuals of the lion's mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) are known to be nearly as large.[5]
Species
The following species are classified within the genus Apolemia:[6]
Siphonophores, such as Apolemia, are generally classified into three major types: Physonectae, Cystonectae, and Calycophorae. Apolemia spp. are classified as part of Physonectae, possessing this group's body plan; physonects have a pneumatophore towards the surface[clarification needed] of the colony, and a nectosome towards the base. Individual zooids are oriented in either polyp or medusae forms, such as gastrozooids and nectophores (medusae).[clarification needed] The orientation of these zooids differs to achieve optimal function within the colony, serving a role in locomotion, propulsion, feeding, and defense. Most physodes are described as being jellyfish-shaped, though Apolemia proves to be an exception in this instance, aligned more laterally than rounded, such as conventional jellyfish.
Pneumatophore
Vertical displacement for the Apolemia is facilitated by the presence of a pneumatophore, a regulating air-float (similar to a swim bladder) that allows the colony to displace itself both above and below the pycnocline depending on prey availability and ocean conditions. Expanding the air-float increases the colony's buoyancy in the water, producing a steep enough contrast for the entire colony to traverse higher in the water column; the inverse is also the case. In addition to assisting in prey location, pneumatophores are integral in the survival of the entire colony. If water conditions become less optimal due to pH fluctuation, temperature variations, or anoxic water zones, the colony is capable of evacuating the area.
Nectophore
Horizontal displacement for Apolemia is facilitated by the presence of nectophores. Apolemia utilize nectophores by producing jet-like propulsion by excreting water. Apolemia are colonial organisms and exhibit a high level of communication. Smaller zooids are concentrated at the front of the siphonophore and are responsible for minute movements such as turning. Larger zooids concentrate at the posterior and generate the bulk of the forward momentum.
Predatory siphonophores such as Apolemia rely on nematocyst rows to inject toxins and incapacitate prey for the colony to feed. As the Apolemia grow and the chance of the colony splitting increases, Apolemia abandon their motile lifestyle in favor of a more sessile one. The newsworthy Apolemia found in 2020, measuring approximately 119 meters, was found coiled in a unique, spiraled shape, increasing the surface area covered in the pycnocline and increasing the potential of trapping prey.
Ecology
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Apolemia are carnivorous invertebrates, which have been documented to feed on small fish, crustaceans, copepods, other plankton, and even other siphonophores. They do so by extending long, curtain-like nematocyst rows into the water column, for prey to become paralyzed.
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