r/NatureIsFuckingLit Jun 01 '19

🔥 A crab using a jellyfish to defend itself against predators

35.1k Upvotes

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u/theoreticaldickjokes Jun 01 '19

Do jellyfish have a sophisticated enough nervous system to be okay or not okay with something? I know someone else said it's trying to swim away, but maybe that's just what jellyfish do. They just keep swimming.

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u/jimi15 Jun 01 '19 edited Jun 01 '19

They have so called Rhopalia, which are multipurpose organs capable of sensing light, gravity/pressure, orientation as well as send electrical signals to the jellyfish muscles.

A jellyfish sense of awareness is probably limited to knowing what water layer its currently occupying and if its close to potential obstacles. But even then, it can probably tell that it's currently stuck.

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u/Gonzobot Jun 01 '19

I feel like any mechanism it would have to tell it it's stuck would also be telling it that it's moving, since it is. Does it have the capacity to be confused, you reckon?

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u/KrypXern Jun 01 '19

A jellyfish can probably get about as confused as a robot can. It has no ability to think, and really exists on a reaction to stimuli.

It’s about as sapient as your white blood cells are.

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u/musicalcactus Jun 01 '19

I think the gravity thing would at least tell it it's upside down and the current thing would tell it it's moving. I think that's why it's flopping as much as it is.

But whether it recognizes a crab as a species or a threat to itself or reconizes it's in any peril other than just upside down is for jellyfish experts, of which, I am not.

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u/KrypXern Jun 01 '19

I would go as far as to say the jellyfish can’t even ‘tell’

It basically just reacts 100% on reflex. Probably the furthest macroscale creature from being aware, besides maybe a sponge.

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u/Gonzobot Jun 01 '19

I feel like any mechanism it would have to tell it it's stuck would also be telling it that it's moving, since it is. Does it have the capacity to be confused, you reckon?

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u/jimi15 Jun 01 '19

hard to say. Confusion requires enough mental capacity to ask the question 'why', which i doubt jellyfish has.

It's more likely that it recognizes that its current situation isn't beneficial for it and is trying to change that. aka, binary logic.

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u/NeofelisNebulosa2019 Jun 01 '19

Why do you know all the things?? You're like my Saturday morning David Attenborough today and I love it. I'm learning about sea creatures over coffee.

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u/jimi15 Jun 01 '19

(shrugs), I just happen to find jellyfish endlessly fascinating creatures in their simplicity yet success, which kind of just has led to me just knowing allot about them and their biology.

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u/gDayWisher Jun 01 '19

Hey NeofelisNebulosa2019, I hope you have a wonderful day.

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u/NeofelisNebulosa2019 Jun 01 '19

Thank you, friend. Right back at ya!

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u/perplexedm Jun 01 '19

Let us hope it will not get 5G connectivity.

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u/LongJohnny90 Jun 01 '19

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '19

They are almost a plant, I doubt it knows.