Your New Favorite Animal: Pyrosomes, the Borg of the Ocean

Your New Favorite Animal: Pyrosomes, the Borg of the Ocean

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A pyrosome is a collection of thousands of clones, each individual capable of copying itself and adding to the colony. They belong to a group of ocean species known as "pelagic sea squirts." That's a lot less menacing than "The Collective."
Unlike the Borg, they are only physically connected through shared tissues and are held together by a gelatinous tunic. Yum. Instead of having a Cube, they ARE the ship. They are shaped like a thimble with a point on one end and an opening on the other.
The opening can be up to 6 feet wide.
[(Yes, a human could fit in there)]
Some pyrosomes can be up to 60 ft long. That's the length of a bowling alley lane. They've also been described as 'fluffy.'
(Pyrosome as a boa??) Best of all: they're bioluminescent. Their blue-green light can be seen from more than 100 ft away. Each individual is capable of emitting light and when one does, their neighbor will too.

Scientists refer to them as "the unicorns of the sea." Pyrosomes: instead of achieving perfection, it's possible they are perfection.

Artwork by Ivan Ehlers

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