New jellyfish looks just like snot
Posted on May 18th, 2008 by admin
Researchers at the Townsville Aquarium are excited about a new jelly fish they have found.
Dr Lisa Gershwin lead researcher, said the jellyfish was not found in the open ocean, but in a jellyfish tank at the aquarium.
It is an unusual looking jellyfish - about 1 cm long and looking well, rather like snot on the bottom of the tank.
phD student Lucius Pratt who looks after many of the tanks thought it was a practical joke.
“Its been there right under our noses, so I though when I first saw it that someone had snorted a big boogie into the tank. But it kept on growing and that it when I realised it was not snot.
Dr Gershwin is unsure of what to name the new jellyfish specie, but globulus snottus has been suggested.
Yes, globulus snottus sounds good or else snottus australis may be just as descriptive and unique.
Either way, jelly fish are an indispensable part of the ecology. We must do all in our power to study and preserve them.
An essential part of the process is to have a suitable name for every new species discovered.