Tasmanian scientists have discovered a new species of jellyfish in Hobart's Derwent River and given it a sexy name.
The species is only a few millimetres wide and looks like a flying saucer with a cluster of gonads, or sex organs, on top.
Scientists discovered the jellyfish while surveying the waters outside the CSIRO in Hobart.
The new species has been named Csiro medusa medeopolis, meaning "jellyfish from CSIRO" and "city of gonads".
Launceston jellyfish expert Lisa-Ann Gershwin says it is an astounding discovery.
"It's absolutely different from every other jellyfish that's ever been known," Dr Gershwin said.
"So we not only put it into its own new species and its own new genus, but it's actually a brand new family."
Dr Gershwin says the jellyfish is harmless to humans.
1 comment:
Gonads huh, reminds me of a greyhound featured on the NRL Footy Show a few years back, always made me laugh then and still does. Imagine standing at the finish line screaming out, GoNads, GoNads!!
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