The siphonophore Praya dubia is said to be one of the longest animals on earth and can stretch for more than 40 meters. This picture shows just one of the two nectophores (swimming bells) and a little fragment of the long chain which it pulls through the water. Even this isolated piece is over 10 cm long. Scroll down a bit to see a picture of the whole animal taken from an ROV. It shows two of the nectophores and a long portion of the stinging curtain trailing behind. Like other Cnidaria, these creatures can deliver a powerful sting, and they also produce a beautiful blue bioluminescent glow. The lower photo shows Rosacea, a close relative to Praya, with light emitting from the swimming bells and all along the stem.

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