{"id":159550,"date":"2023-05-16T12:35:26","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T12:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/culture.org\/?p=159550"},"modified":"2023-05-16T12:35:26","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T12:35:26","slug":"hong-kong-scientists-discover-new-species-of-box-jellyfish-amid-growing-interest-in-these-marine-creatures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/culture.org\/special-interest\/hong-kong-scientists-discover-new-species-of-box-jellyfish-amid-growing-interest-in-these-marine-creatures\/","title":{"rendered":"Hong Kong Scientists Discover New Species of Box Jellyfish Amid Growing Interest in These Marine Creatures"},"content":{"rendered":"           <!--  <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n                jQuery(document).ready(function() {\r\n                    jQuery(\".key-accordion-item .key-menu\").on(\"click\", function() {\r\n                        if (jQuery(this).parent().hasClass(\"active\")) {\r\n                            jQuery(this).next().slideUp();\r\n                            jQuery(this).parent().removeClass(\"active\");\r\n                        } else {\r\n                            jQuery(\".key-content\").slideUp();\r\n                            jQuery(\".key-accordion-item\").removeClass(\"active\");\r\n                            jQuery(this).parent().addClass(\"active\");\r\n                            jQuery(this).next().slideDown();\r\n                        }\r\n                    });\r\n                })\r\n            <\/script> -->\r\n\r\n\r\n            <!-- start html -->\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"news-key-takeaway-wapper\">\r\n                                <span style=\"background-color:#39b54a;\">Key Takeaways<\/span>\r\n                <ul class=\"news-key-nbox\" style=\"border-color:#39b54a;background-color:rgba(57, 181, 74, 0.1);\">\r\n                                                        <li>\u200b\u200bNew Box Jellyfish Species: Scientists at the Hong Kong Baptist University have found a previously unknown species of box jellyfish, Tripedalia maipoensis, in a local shrimp pond. This marks the first discovery of a box jellyfish in Chinese waters.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>Unique Characteristics: The newly discovered box jellyfish species is transparent with a colorless body and possesses 12 tentacles that end in paddle-like structures. It has 24 eyes arranged in clusters of six around its cubic bell, distinguishing it from other jellyfish species.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>Enhanced Mobility: The paddle-like structures on the tentacles enable this species to navigate through water at a faster pace compared to most other jellyfish. Its bell and tentacles are connected by a flat base resembling a boat paddle, setting it apart from common jellyfish.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>Feeding Habits: The species likely feeds on copepods, small crustaceans found abundantly in the shrimp pond samples. Although it is uncertain whether T. maipoensis can sting humans, the researchers believe it may be venomous enough to paralyze tiny shrimp.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>Importance of Research and Conservation: This discovery highlights the significance of marine biodiversity in the Hong Kong region and Chinese coastal waters. It also emphasizes the need for further research and conservation efforts to protect these unique creatures and their habitats in the face of environmental disruptions and growing interest in jellyfish.<\/li>\r\n                                                <\/ul>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            \n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists at the Hong Kong Baptist University have recently uncovered a completely new species of box jellyfish, a type of Cnidarian, in a local shrimp pond.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This fascinating discovery in the Mai Po Nature Reserve marks the first-ever box jelly discovered in Chinese waters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These tiny, cube-shaped jellyfish, now named Tripedalia maipoensis, are almost completely transparent with a colorless body or bell, and are equipped with 12 tentacles ending in small, paddle-like structures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This unique feature allows these small creatures to navigate water at a faster pace compared to most other jellyfish species.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The distinguishing characteristics of this new species also include 24 eyes arranged in clusters of six around its cubic bell.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their tentacles and bell are connected with a flat base resembling a boat paddle, distinguishing them from other common jellyfish.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The species is likely to feed on small crustaceans, known as copepods, which were found in abundance in the shrimp pond samples.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it is still unclear whether T. maipoensis can sting humans, the research team led by Qiu Jianwen, a professor in the Department of Biology, noted that the animal might be venomous enough to paralyze tiny shrimp called Artemia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This finding represents a significant addition to marine biodiversity in the region, showing the potential for more marine life discoveries in Hong Kong and Chinese coastal waters.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Jellyfish: The Underappreciated Marine Marvels<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jellyfish, known by many names around the world, are often a source of fear due to their venomous stings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are particularly adaptable creatures, surviving in a wide variety of environments ranging from the North to the South Pole, from the surface to the deep seas, and even in freshwater.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, their fascinating biology and ability to withstand a variety of conditions have often been overlooked, with studies usually focused on larger and more charismatic megafauna.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These marine creatures are as captivating as they are feared. They exhibit an array of colors, shapes, and sizes and have even proven to be biologically immortal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite their longevity and adaptability, which has seen them outlive 99 percent of all other species, they&#8217;ve largely been ignored in academic and amateur study of natural history for centuries.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>                        <!-- <div class=\"container-c\"> -->\r\n                        <!-- <div class=\"row justify-content-between\"> -->\r\n                        <!-- <div class=\"col-post-800\"> -->\r\n                        <!-- start html -->\r\n                        <div class=\"blockquote-wapper\">\r\n                            <div>\r\n                                <span class=\"text_quot\">\r\n                                    <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists at the Hong Kong Baptist University have recently uncovered a completely new species of box jellyfish, a type of Cnidarian, in a local shrimp pond.<\/span><\/p>\n                                <\/span>\r\n\r\n                                <div class=\"quot_icon\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-content\/themes\/culture\/icons\/i_quot.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\">\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"quot_tick\" src=\"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-content\/themes\/culture\/icons\/i_quot_tri.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                        <!-- end html -->\r\n                        <!-- <\/div> -->\r\n                        <!-- <\/div> -->\r\n                        <!-- <\/div> -->\r\n                                    <\/h2>\n<h2><b>The Jellyfish Renaissance<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, however, the tide seems to be turning for these marine organisms. Increasing human activity and environmental disruptions, such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change, are leading to larger jellyfish blooms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This sudden surge in their population is causing significant disturbances across several industries, including aquaculture, power plants, shipping, and tourism, leading to increased attention on these creatures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simultaneously, there&#8217;s a growing commercial interest in jellyfish.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They&#8217;re harvested for a variety of uses, ranging from food products like snacks and Asian cuisine delicacies to non-food products like super-growth fertilizers for rice, super-absorbent paper towels, sanitary products, and even as thickeners for caramel candies.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Final Thoughts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As our understanding of these mysterious creatures deepens, so does our appreciation for their resilience and adaptability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The discovery of the new box jellyfish species in Hong Kong is a testament to the untapped potential of marine biodiversity in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also sheds light on the need for further research and conservation efforts to protect these unique creatures and the ecosystems they inhabit.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":159551,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[411],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-159550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special-interest"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159550"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=159550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/159551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=159550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=159550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=159550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}