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November 27, 2021: Dandelion Siphonophore

This dandelion siphonophore was observed under a ledge along the West Florida Escarpment during Exploration of the Gulf of Mexico 2014.

Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Exploration of the Gulf of Mexico 2014. Download larger version (jpg, 2.0 MB).

This dandelion siphonophore was observed under a ledge along the West Florida Escarpment during Exploration of the Gulf of Mexico 2014. In scientific terms, dandelion animals are physonect siphonophores. They are a type of pelagic colonial hydrozoan, which is a type of cnidarian—thus closely related to corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish. Learn more about these animals in this mission log, “Enigmatic Invertebrates: The Dandelion Animal.”