Origin of mystery deep-sea 'mushroom' revealed

[n2doc]

By Myles Gough


Dendrogramma was named for the branching channels visible in its body mass


Australian scientists have used genetic material to pinpoint the origin of the deep-sea mushroom, an unusual gelatinous creature first dredged up near Tasmania in 1986.

The organisms have a cylindrical stalk capped by a flat, semi-transparent disc that houses visible channels branching outwards.

These channels, which resemble tree-like diagrams known as dendrograms, are the basis for its scientific name - Dendrogramma.

The original specimens were described for the first time in 2014 by a team of Danish scientists, one of whom had been aboard the 1986 voyage and later transported the samples to Copenhagen.

more
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36457841

[d_legendary1]

1. Will they make me hallucinate?

For...errrm...research...

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Hallucinations are all the same.

You're a pretty red-headed mermaid that uses a fork to comb her hair.

[Taitertots]

4. I tried that once. Seagulls talked, I went mute, and woke up

Married to some guy I'd only known for a few days.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. These bracts are 10 times larger than others, so what do they come from?

There could be something pretty awesome floating around down there ...

[HuckleB]

5. Recommended!