This species is less common around Rosario in late spring and early summer but becomes quite common by the end of summer. June 30, 2009: Many Aequorea victoria are washing up on the beach at Rosario Bay. Most of them are moribund, and have this flatworm crawling over them. The flatworm is up to 5 mm long.
This view of the underside of a swimming individual shows the many radial canals, the many tentacles along the margin of the bell, and the small manubrium in the middle.
Aequorea victoria, 4 cm diameter, captured in central Rosario Strait July 12, 2007. The broad, open manubrium with frilly lips can be seen through the bell. The tentacles are retracted. (Photo by: Dave Cowles, July 2007)
Aequorea showing distribution of bioluminscence around the edge of the bellTo obtain this photo, Dr. Ward "flash froze" the specimen on a ceramic tile that had been painted black and stored in a -80 C freezer, then took a series of photographs as it thawed (freezing and thawing stimulates bioluminescence in these animals). The image was captured with a Nikon 35 mm SLR camera mounted on a tripod. Note that Aequorea bioluminescence appears only around its perimeter; light seen elsewhere on the body in photos is generally reflection from photographic flashes or sunlight.
