Fascinating Blue bottle off the coast of Gansbaai, South Africa (00016706)
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Description: The Blue bottle (Physalia utriculus) is a fascinating creature, known for its striking appearance. With a multitude of polyps, tentacles, and nematocysts, it is both captivating and dangerous. Its bluish shimmering gas bladder serves as a sail, providing buoyancy in the water. The tentacles of the Blue bottle can grow up to 10 meters in length and are extremely perilous, with up to 1000 nematocysts per centimeter. Contact with these tentacles can be life-threatening for humans. This spectacular shot captures such a Blue bottle off the stunning coast of Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa.
Location: Western Cape, Küste Gansbaai, South Africa
Date of Capture: 14.08.2005