Denizens of the Deep Sea
Chironex Fleckeri
Morphology:CF is one of the simplest organisms which possess a tissue level of organization.
The body is a well developed tissues and specialized cells. It is bi-radially symmetrical
with an outer covering of ectoderm made of milky slime substance and an inner layer of
endoderm. Thus, it is displobastic.
It has an organic exoskeleton and hydrostatic skeleton. It is an encephalized organism with
a non-cellular mesoglea separating the two layers and spreading to a vast bulk of its body.
This aids its buoyancy. The body encompasses a single sac-like body space called the
Gastro-vascular cavity which symbolizes the less preferred name of the Phylum Coelenteron.
CF is pale-blue in color and almost invisible in the water as it is transparent as ripples in a pond. It possesses a single opening, the mouth and entrance to the cavity. It is referred to as box jellyfish because its transverse section appears to be squared-umbrella -shape. It has its tentacles at the corners of the box margin. The edge of the umbrella turns inwards forming a circular shaped structure called Velarium.
The tentacles are studded with microscopic stinging cells or capsules called Nematocysts or Cnidoblasts. This characterizes it as being in the Phylum Cnidaria. Cnidae mean threads. The nematocysts are believed to be secreted by the Golgi apparatus of the cytoplasm (Watson 1988).
Its actual chemistry is however puzzling but it could be regarded as one of the most complex secretory organs and swiftest reflex known in the whole of the Animal kingdom. This nematocyst is a toxic fluid contained inside the capsules, emitting in form of tubule longer than the capsules. The capsules of about 5billions are in turn contained in the tentacles that form a tangle of about 60 strap-like structure, stretchable to 5m!
A matured CF could be as large as a standard football. It possesses four dark spots (primitive eyes) that are sensitive to light. One located at the center of each side of the bell. These enable it to avoid colluding with foreign objects, detection of foods, and orientation for swimming. It has a simple but well-developed and sophisticated nervous and sensory systems but no specialized excretory respiratory and circulatory organs since most of its living cells are in direct contact with the water.
Systematics of Chironex Fleckeri
Life Cycle of Chironex Fleckeri
Mode of Life of Chironex Fleckeri
Behavior and Adaptation of Chironex Fleckeri