Siphonophore 119 meters long
by Massimo Boston: Nature/Scenery
The longest animal on Earth measures a staggering 119 meters in length, and it's not what you'd expect. It's a siphonophore, a deep-sea creature that defies conventional understanding of animal life. This remarkable organism drifts through the ocean depths, its body composed of interconnected glowing segments. Marine biologists continue to study these fascinating beings to unlock the secrets of the deep sea.
Transcript (en)
This is the longest animal ever found on Earth, longer than a blue whale, and it was only discovered in 2020. Meet the giant siphonophore, found floating in a perfect spiral deep off the coast of Australia. Its outer ring alone measured 47 meters, and its full length may reach 119 meters. That's as tall as an 11-story building. But here's the strangest part. It's not one animal at all. It's thousands of tiny creatures living as one. Each tiny clone has its own job. Some swim, some catch prey, some digest, and some reproduce, all working as a single body. Despite being longer than any whale, this giant is no thicker than a broomstick. It hunts by hanging a curtain of stinging tentacles, catching fish and tiny creatures that drift into its trap. Scientists found it floating in a strange UFO-like spiral, a posture never seen so clearly before. It was discovered in 2020, proof that the deep sea still hides creatures, beyond our imagination. The longest animal on Earth isn't one creature. It's thousands living and hunting as one.
