 Look closely and try not to be shocked
May 6, 2010 4:57 PM
Gonads correspondent
SCIENTISTS in Tasmania believe a new species of jellyfish remind them of gonads.
So much so, they've actually called it "City of Gonads".
The species was founnd in Hobart's River Derwent and is only a few millimetres wide, just enough for said scientists to spot a "cluster of gonads" on its head.
The official name is Csiromedusa (jellyfish from CSIRO) medeopolis (city of gonads).
Jellyfish expert Lisa-Ann Gershwin says it is an astounding discovery.
"It's absolutely different from every other jellyfish that's ever been known," Dr Gershwin said.
"So we not only put it into its own new species and its own new genus, but it's actually a brand new family."
Dr Gershwin says the find is "quite possibly and quite humbly" the greatest discovery of her career.
"You know any mum with a new bub is always excited, but when you have a whole family of new bubs I think it's triply exciting."
Despite all its gonads, the jellyfish is harmless to humans.
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