Here you see them in place on a hydra tentacle. (100X S Plan Apo)
Here are two "discharged" ones that have not hit any prey. (100X S Plan Apo)
This is from an older post ( http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=29301 ) but it fits nicely here since you can see a "fired" nematocyst attached to potential prey (didn't succumb to the hydra in this case). (40X S Plan Apo)
Hydra nematocysts
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- Charles Krebs
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- Charles Krebs
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Thanks for the kind remarks.
They were found in a local (North Bend) marsh here in WA. I've seen plenty of water fleas "escape" a hydra. "Softer" bodied prey, like most midge larva, seem to be far more vulnerable. That's one reason why I was interested in this biting midge larva. At the entry point of each "harpoon" was the dark spot seen in this third image. There were quite a few of these spots but the larva seemed perfectly fine and active. This is all anecdotal, but the biting midge larva I have observed seem to be tougher critters than other midge larva. On multiple occasions I have seen a non-biting midge hit one hydra tentacle and basically become immediately paralyzed. In several cases where the hydra decided not to "eat" it, I isolated the larva and continued to observe it. Never recovered.
David,discomorphella wrote:Great shots. I especially like number 3 though. I've always wondered how toxic the hydra's venom is towards a cladoceran or similar prey. Clearly its not a "one hit" kill since this one has survived at least 2 shots...
David
p.s. where did you find the hydra?
They were found in a local (North Bend) marsh here in WA. I've seen plenty of water fleas "escape" a hydra. "Softer" bodied prey, like most midge larva, seem to be far more vulnerable. That's one reason why I was interested in this biting midge larva. At the entry point of each "harpoon" was the dark spot seen in this third image. There were quite a few of these spots but the larva seemed perfectly fine and active. This is all anecdotal, but the biting midge larva I have observed seem to be tougher critters than other midge larva. On multiple occasions I have seen a non-biting midge hit one hydra tentacle and basically become immediately paralyzed. In several cases where the hydra decided not to "eat" it, I isolated the larva and continued to observe it. Never recovered.
- carlos.uruguay
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Very nice!
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