FRESHWATER DWELLING JELLY FISH FOUND

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A freshwater dwelling jellyfish was found in a well in Polonnaruwa  area. According the researcher, Dr Kamal Ranatunga  of Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, as there was no previous literature, this is presumed to be the first record of such a freshwater jellyfish in Sri Lanka.

The freshwater “Jellyfish” is not a true jellyfish as are some of its marine relatives. They differ slightly from the true marine jellyfish. This jellyfish has been identified as Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankester (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa). This is on of the amazing freshwater cnidarians exhibiting a medusa stage in it’s life cycle.

C. sowerbii is about the size of a 50 cents coin when fully grown (20-25 mm).
They are umbrella shaped and tentacles contain hundreds of nematocysts that
are used to capture prey. They are somewhat translucent with a whitish tinge.
The jellyfish will be floating or swimming gently just below the surface of
the water. They are easily seen by the naked eye.

Dr Kamal Ranatunga , Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
and Mr Sumedha Abesinghe from National Zoological Gardens, further
investigating these truly amazing creatures. They request the public in the
Polonnaruwa (and rest of the country) to be more vigilant and inform the
researchers if they sight unusual, small transparent animals floating in any
of the freshwater bodies.

For further information contact: Dr Kamal
Ranatunga , Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura e-mail:
ranatunga@sjp.ac.lk TelePhone: 0112758165.

 

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