More Than Meets The Eyes (All 24 Of Them)

The Intersection
By Sheril Kirshenbaum
Nov 24, 2008 10:00 PMNov 5, 2019 10:25 AM

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Hawaii has seen another invasion of the dangerous box jellyfish and we've got the details at Talking Science. Most importantly, remember everything's connected: oceans, land, and atmosphere. We're a single component of the vast array of biodiversity on the planet and what alters one species impacts the rest of system. In other words, there's a lot more to this story than a few more jellyfish...

Box jellies are unique because they can move at up to four knots through the water, whereas most other jellyfish species simply drift. Their 24 eyes (six on each side of the bell) are made up of a lens, retina, iris and cornea, but with no central nervous system, scientists still aren't sure how they process visual information. The jellies have as many as 15 tentacles, which reach up to 10 feet in length and harbor an estimated 5,000 stinging cells each. Needless to say, box jellyfish are beautiful to watch...from a distance.

Read on...

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.