Amazing Jellyfish Fireworks Show (HD)

[onderwaterfoto]

This videoclip was shot during a dive in the Grevelingen (the Netherlands). I was filming this small jellyfish (about 5 cm) and suddenly it gave an amazing show! It was rotating, spinning and displayed a great light performance. I saw a lot of Jellyfish with lights but never with the rotation. Hope you like it.

Amazing Jellyfish Fireworks Show (HD) on Vimeo

[vimeo]15943112[/vimeo]

 

[drbill]

Before I even looked at the video I was pretty sure you were referring to a comb jelly (phylum Ctenophora) which is not a jellyfish (phylum Cnidaria). They ARE pretty cool though.

The irridescent display is due to the movement of their "ctenes" or combs used to propel them through the water.

 

[onderwaterfoto]

Not a jellyfish? But what is it then?

 

[ronscuba]

Pretty cool when it was spinning.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

cool video. Ctenophores are even cooler at night. they often are bioluminescent under the ctene rows.

 

[drbill]

Not a jellyfish? But what is it then?

A ctenophore, also known as a comb jelly

 

[sufur]

silly people. its obviously an alien. havent you seen Abyss? DUH!

 

[merxlin]

That video helps me remember dives in the early 70's :acid: :hippy:

 

[drbill]

Actually ctenophores are not bioluminescent (at least the ones I know), although they stir up the surrounding plankton to bioluminesce. Their ctenes or combs are irridescent and do not emit their own light.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Actually ctenophores are not bioluminescent (at least the ones I know), although they stir up the surrounding plankton to bioluminesce. Their ctenes or combs are irridescent and do not emit their own light.

I've seen it with my own eyes many times, but you got me doubting....

Ctenophore light-scattering and bioluminescence


One of the most delightful characteristics of ctenophores is the light-scattering produced by beating of the eight rows of locomotory cilia, which appears as a changing rainbow of colors running down the comb rows. Many people assume that they are seeing bioluminescence when they see this rainbow-effect, but really this is simple light diffraction or scattering of light by the moving cilia. Most (but not all) ctenophores are also bioluminescent, but that light (usually blue or green) can only be seen in darkness. I was unable to locate any images of ctenophore bioluminescence to point to on the web; most of the images that claim to show luminescence do not. Check out the Bioluminescence Web Page for a general discussion of bioluminescence; in the Myths section on the Bioluminescence Web Page, Dr. Steven Haddock explains the different kinds of light shows produced by ctenophores (see the third Myth).


Ctenophores - some notes from an expert