Animal profile

Giant Siphonophore

Praya dubia

HydrozoaDeep midwater of the open ocean

Field profile

Praya dubia is a deep-sea siphonophore that forms an extremely long gelatinous chain of connected zooids. Colonies have been recorded at lengths comparable to the largest whales. The body is fragile and disintegrates readily when handled.

Published field notes

2023-08-21

Giant Siphonophore

Some siphonophores outstretch a blue whale

Praya dubia has been recorded at lengths of forty metres and more, exceeding any whale. It is not one animal but a chain of thousands of specialised zooids, and it is so fragile that nets typically return it in pieces.

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