Clones of the Seas: Biologists Capture Rare Marine Colony on Video

The video you will watch below, though it appears to show a huge semitransparent plastic tube floating in the sea, bears images of a colony known as a pirosome about 18 meters long. These structures are composed of sea creatures called tunicates, which unite in their hundreds or thousands to form cylindrical and translucent colonies ranging from a few centimeters to several meters in length.

According to the Deep Sea News website, the longest pyrosomes are made up of thousands of tunicates which, in turn, are individuals capable of producing clones of themselves to enlarge the colony. In addition, these creatures are physically connected by sharing tissues, forming a hollow structure that has an opening at one end.

Still according to the story, in the larger pyrosomes this entrance hole can be up to two meters in diameter, that is, big enough to “swallow” an adult person. However, if you are ever diving and come across such a creature, don't be afraid! The pyrosomes are not interested in humans. They feed on particles present in water, and to capture them, act as filters.

Incidentally, to perform this filtration, the pyrosomes suck the water and expel it through the opening at its end, using this mechanism to create momentum and move around the ocean. And you, reader, already knew this kind of marine colony?