Stomolophus meleagris
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Stomolophus meleagris |
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| Stomolophus meleagris | ||||||||||
| Agassiz , 1862 |
Stomolophus meleagris is an umbrella jellyfish from the order of the root-mouth jellyfish .
features
The milky to yellowish, sometimes bluish shimmering umbrella of the Stomolophus meleagris is dome-shaped, there are no tentacles on the brown banded edge. The consistency is firm and stiff gelatinous . The manubrium (mouth tube), located in the center of the underside of the umbrella, is also firm and stiff; it partially covers eight protruding mouth arms.
This jellyfish is a very active, fast and good swimmer. With a diameter of 19 to 25 centimeters, it is relatively large. The lifespan of the Stomolophus meleagris is around three to six months.
Occurrence
Stomolophus meleagris are distributed from New England to Brazil on the western Atlantic side , from southern California to Ecuador on the eastern Pacific side and in the western Pacific from the Sea of Japan to the South China Sea . In late spring and summer, they occur increasingly on the US coast of the Gulf of Mexico , in the tropical Atlantic and in the Caribbean . Often times, thousands are washed up on the beach at this time.
nutrition
Zoo plankton is filtered out of the water that Stomolophus meleagris ejects when swimming through the manubrium covered with sticky mucus . The slime is also a protective layer. The prey is brought to the mouth through one of the many openings in the arms.
Ecology and economy
Stomolophus meleagris is ecologically very important as it is the main food of the critically endangered leatherback turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea ) and other sea turtles .
This jellyfish has been a delicacy in East Asia for over 1,000 years. It is also used medicinally , for example to lower blood pressure and to relieve arthritis and bronchitis . It consists of 80% the protein collagen , which is also present in human tissue , cartilage , teeth and bones . The medical application of this collagen has shown positive results against rheumatoid arthritis. Animal experiments on rats have shown that the same collagen can suppress the onset of arthritis.
toxicology
Even if the nettle cells of the Stomolophus meleagris are very rarely lethally toxic (deaths are known), contact with the skin should be avoided. In the case of poisoning , the clinical picture is similar to Irukandji syndrome and pulmonary edema can occur quickly . Burning pain and reddening of the skin set in immediately on contact, whereby the skin damage can recur after about seven days. Pouring at least two liters of household vinegar over them will inactivate the nettle capsules after they have been used for at least 30 seconds. Only now can the nettle cells be safely removed without triggering further nettle capsules. Otherwise, the treatment is based on the symptoms; there are no antidotes (antivenins).
kitchen
Stomolophus meleagris is one of the few jellyfish caught for commercial processing. After a treatment with table salt and alum and subsequent rinsing with water, the jellyfish are ready to cook.
literature
- Dale R. Calder: Life history of the Cannon Ball Jellyfish, Stomolophus meleagris L. Agassiz, 1860 (Scyphozoa, Rhizostomatida). Biological Bulletin, 162: 149-162, Woodshole, Mass. 1982 PDF
- Yao-Wen Huang: Cannonball Jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris) as a Food Resource. Journal of Food Science, 53 (2): 341-343, 2006 doi : 10.1111 / j.1365-2621.1988.tb07701.x
