Nautilus Field Guide: Siphonophores

The Nautilus Field Guide series is here to take you on a nerdy deep dive into the remarkable animals that call the deep sea home.  If you love deep-sea creatures, marine biology fun facts, or just saying “what is THAT?”—this series is for you.

What seems like science fiction is actually marine biology when it comes to the siphonophore: hydrozoans that blur the line between individual and colonial. Siphonophores are a colony of hundreds or thousands of tiny parts working together. Despite their sometimes innocuous appearance, these animals are incredibly complex, with highly specialized body parts. Learn more in this episode of Nautilus Field Guide.