Longest Animal Ever' Discovered in Deep Sea

#. Longest Animal Ever' Discovered in Deep Sea

 

Much of the ocean remains unexplored, and marine biologists are constantly discovering truly amazing creatures.

A good example is a recent encounter in which scientists may have found the longest organism in the world.

The discovery was made by an underwater robot in the Ningaloo Canyons in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Western Australia.

During its month-long expedition, the robot came across what appeared to be a long white string floating in the deep regions of the sea.

Upon closer inspection, the gelatinous substance turned out to be alive.

The animal is a member of a species called siphonophore, a distant relative of the jellyfish.

It looks like one cohesive animal, but it is actually formed by tiny, specialized cells called zooids.

These cells clone themselves thousands of times and string themselves into a functional colony.

Within this structure, the zooids can work to reproduce, digest, and even catch prey.

The recently discovered siphonophore is estimated to be over 120 meters long, which would make it the world's longest animal.

One marine biologist described it as being in a "strange UFO-like feeding posture."

Along with the potentially record-setting siphonophore, the robot encountered around 30 new species in the underwater canyon.

They included glass sponges, what looked like an upside-down jellyfish: and a bioluminescent octopus squid that made regular flashes of light.

"We suspected these deep sea areas would be diverse," said Nerida Wilson, the chief scientist of the expedition, in an interview.

"But we have been blown away by the significance of what we have seen."

The scientists said they planned to explore other canyons coral reefs around Australia in the future.

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blow away  ~를 뿅 가게 만들다, 넋이 나가다

But we have been blown away by the significance of what we have seen.

The fresh air will blow away the cobwebs from your brain.

@ cobweb  (망처럼 엮어 놓은) 거미줄 (→web, spider’s web)

 

posture  @  |pɑːstʃə  (사람이 앉거나 서 있는) 자세  an upright posture  꼿꼿한 자세

 

colony  @ |kɑːləni  식민지 , (출신지나 직업·관심사 등이 같은 사람들의) 집단

These cells clone themselves thousands of times and string themselves into a functional colony.

a colony of ants ,  a bird colony

 

cohesive  @ koʊ|hiːsɪv  화합[결합]하는, 화합[결합]하게 하는

It looks like one cohesive animal, but it is actually formed by tiny, specialized cells called zooids.

We can assist you in forming a cohesive marketing strategy for the Korean market.

 

jellyfish ˈdʒelifɪʃ  해파리

 

inspection  @  ɪnˈspekʃn   (특히 모든 것이 제대로 되어 있는지 확인하기 위한) 점검[검사/검토] (=examination) 

The documents are available for inspection.

Upon closer inspection, the gelatinous substance turned out to be alive.  @ gelatinous  dʒəˈlætɪnəs  젤리 같은

inspect  (특히 모든 것이 제대로 되어 있는지 확인하기 위해) 점검[검사]하다 (=examine)

 

come across  ~을 우연히 발견하다 = meet by chance = happen to meet

 

expedition  @  ˌekspəˈdɪʃn

1.탐험, 원정

2.탐험대

3.(필요한 일을 하기 위한 짧은) 여행

We need to find sponsorships for the expedition.

 

tour (여러 도시ㆍ국가 등을 방문하는) 여행[관광]:

a tour of Bavaria바바리아 여행[관광]

expedition 탐험, 원정:

the first expedition to the South Pole최초의 남극 탐험

excursion (보통 단체로 짧게 하는) 여행:

We went on an all-day excursion to the island.우리는 그 섬으로 일일 여행을 갔다.

outing (보통 단체로 당일로 하는) 여행[견학], 야유회:

The children were on a day’s outing from school.아이들은 학교에서 하는 일일 견학 중이었다.

day out (하루 동안의) 여행[방문]:

We had a day out at the beach.우리는 해변으로 일일 여행을 갔다

 

encounter   @  ɪnˈkaʊntə

1.(특히 반갑지 않은 일에) 맞닥뜨리다

We encountered a number of difficulties in the first week. 

2.(새롭거나 뜻밖의 대상과) 접하다

She was the most remarkable woman he had ever encountered.  @ remarkable   rɪ│mɑːrkəbl  놀랄 만한, 놀라운, 주목할 만한 (↔unremarkable), (=astonishing)

3.(특히 예상 밖의폭력적인) 만남

The story describes the extraordinary encounter between a man and a dolphin.  @  extraordinary   ɪkˈstrɔːrdəneri  기이한, 놀라운 (=incredible)

A good example is a recent encounter in which scientists may have found the longest organism in the world.