I'm amazed at this video of a crab hitching a mid-ocean ride aboard a 'pink meanie' jellyfish in the Gulf of Mexico. The two were spotted off the coast of Sanibel Island, near Florida.
The 'pink meanie' jellyfish is apparently also known as the 'purple sea mane' jellyfish. I haven't been able to dig up any more useful information about it, except that its tentacles can be up to 100 feet long, and their numbers can grow so great as to clog large stretches of the Gulf of Mexico at times.
How did the crab happen to make his 'rendezvous' with the jellyfish? Does the jellyfish mind his, or her, or its passenger? How long had they been travelling together? Where are they going? When will the crab decide that he or she's gone far enough, and drop off?
Intriguing questions, to which we'll never know the answers.
Peter
It is a parasite. Little Jelly's have little crabs. If the Jelly's lasts long enough to get big the crabs just get bigger as there is more Jelly to eat.
ReplyDeleteWhen the jelly's and crabs are small the crabs a pretty much see through. As they get bigger they become more opaque.
Your post came in my Google Sanibel Alerts, thus my visit here. :-)
ReplyDeleteI had seen this video, and found it very interesting too. Seems like you have a curious nature, as well. Jellys are quite amazing. I see them washed up on the beach here pretty often and always have to stop to take a second look.
Good Lord! That poor bugger has about the worst case of crabs I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know of a VD clinic that treats jellyfish?
:)
It's the only way to fly...
ReplyDelete