In recent times, along the Italian coaststhe sightings of Curious marine creatures gelatinous and almost invisible aspectOften confused with jellyfish. However, it is an error as they actually are sausageanimals transparent, harmless It is much more fascinating than you might think.
Although they are still little known, these forms of life belong to the group of tunicasorganisms they share A surprising evolutionary relationship with humans. Despite the similarity with jellyfish, sausage and do not represent any danger for swimmers.
Their body is soft and gelatinouscrossed by a clearly visible orange nucleus, which corresponds to the stomach and intestine. These animals live in the open sea and they feed by filtering the phytoplanktonpumping water through the body. In the presence of abundant algal bloomscan appear in large numbers near the coast or beach after storms.
Movements and ecological functions
The sauings, despite seem to float passively, are able to move actively thanks to a mechanism of hydraulic propulsion. They perform real Daily vertical migrations: during the day they are in depth, between 200 and 800 meters, while at night go back to the surface To feed. With their filtration activity they play an important role in marine carbon cyclecontributing to the balance of the ecosystem.
One of the most extraordinary characteristics of the salt is theirs Vital cycle complexwhich alternates asexual and sexual reproduction. Lonely individuals, called oozoids, are cloning generating links connected to each other, known as Blastozoids. These begin as females and, over time, some turn into males, thus allowing the sexual reproduction. New oozoids are born from fertilization, which will begin the cycle again.
Even if they are not often seen in Mediterraneansome species like the Salpa Fusiformis and the SALPA MAXIMA they populate our waters. If you are lucky enough to come across these transparent creatures, you can observe them closely without fear. They are not fish or jellyfish, but authentic Marine biodiversity jewelsworthy of admiration and respect.
